Labour MP reveals she was threatened with gang rape at Cambridge University

11 May 2022, 22:45 | Updated: 12 May 2022, 07:30

Stella Creasy has said she was threatened with gang rape while at university.
Stella Creasy has said she was threatened with gang rape while at university. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

A Labour MP has revealed that she was threatened with gang rape during a two-year campaign of sexual harassment at Cambridge University.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Stella Creasy said her first experience of sexual harassment was during her first year at Magdalene College, with it lasting from 1996 to 1998.

It included a campaign of abusive posters when she ran for the role of president of the college's student council, she said.

But she claimed college authorities "admonished" her instead of punishing the abusers when she made a complaint.

The Walthamstow MP went on to say she remained "terrified" of bumping into the same group of men, who had gone on to become doctors, civil servants and "high-fliers".

She claimed a culture of "privilege and entitlement" was behind the string of allegations of misconduct that she and other politicians were sharing, and warned it was not unique to Parliament.

Read more: 'I cried almost everyday': Former Parliament worker details shocking sexual harassment

Read more: Ex-Tory MP reveals she was victim of harassment in Commons

Chris Bryant shares how he was 'touched up' by male MPs

Ms Creasy told GB News: "I'll never forget the night that I was in a room with them all and they threatened to gang rape me, let alone the posters that they put up around the college when I had the temerity to stand for a position in the student union, telling people not to vote for me because of who I'd slept with, and that happened at a Cambridge college."

The MP added that sexual harassment remained a major issue in universities.

"I tell you that because I think that culture isn't unique to Parliament, where there's privilege and entitlement, and, frankly, it's always the men that people think are least likely to do it who are involved in it," she said.

She went on to say: "I was held up and I was admonished by the college authorities at the time because they chose to believe the idea that I was probably 'a wronged woman'.

"And, as I say, it took public humiliation, and posters, and finally other people coming forward, and me collating the evidence - of all the notes, the spitting in my room, the rubbish that was thrown at me, the sexual abuse and harassment if I tried to walk into the bar, that came from this group of young men.

"I'm in my mid-40s now and it's the first time I've really felt even willing to talk about it.

"It was terrifying at the time, I'm terrified I'll ever run into those young men again.

"And I say that because, several years after I left university, I did exactly that - I walked into a bar and they were all sat there, and I collapsed inside and left as soon as I could."

Ms Creasy, a prominent campaigner for women's rights including fighting for maternity leave for MPs, has said the abuse will always affect her.

"But one of the things I want to say to women who have experienced those things in life and to the women in Parliament now, is that you will find allies, you will find those of us prepared to stand with you because we know what it's like, we know how hard it is and we know the impact it can have on you," she said.

Trade Secretary says she's been subjected to 'wandering hands'

Cambridge University apologised to Ms Creasy for her "horrific ordeal", and was expected to be in contact with the MP personally.

A university spokesman said: "We are extremely sorry to hear of the horrific ordeal which Stella Creasy experienced.

"Sexual harassment of any sort has absolutely no place at the university.

"In recent years the university has taken significant steps in order to provide support for victims of sexual misconduct, to improve systems for reporting any incidents, and to take action as a result.

"We urge anyone who experiences any form of harassment or abuse to report it so that they can be offered support and action can be taken."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Newcombe Road, Coventry.

Double Coventry stabbing kills one and leaves another with 'facial injuries'

Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

Alice da Silva Aguiar was one of the three children killed.

Commemorative playground to be built in primary school in honour of Southport victims

Foreign Office staff enjoyed the Nassau Yacht Club in Barbados, in January 2023, spending £920.

Civil servants splurge on Barbados yacht club trip with taxpayer-backed credit card

Met Police sued after reinstating 999 call handler who mock Sarah Everard and called rape victim a ‘slut’

Met Police sued after reinstating 999 call handler who 'mocked Sarah Everard' and called rape victim a ‘slut’

At least 50 dead after fire rips through nightclub in North Macedonia

At least 50 dead after fire rips through nightclub in North Macedonia

FILE - Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending an Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Bombshell US court ruling orders Prince Harry's visa application files be made public by Tuesday

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts waving after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. Top row from left: Nick Hague, Alexander Gorbunov, Suni Williams, Alexei Ovchinin.

Over the moon: SpaceX capsule docks with ISS as stranded NASA astronauts welcome replacement crew

F1 Grand Prix Of Australia

Lando Norris wins a wet Australian Grand Prix despite last minute charge from Max Verstappen

Disabled people to be given right to try working without risk of losing benefits in welfare reforms.

Disabled people to be given 'right to try' work without risk of losing benefits

Britain's Prince William, Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), and Kate, the Princess of Wales, Patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), pose for a photo with Leif Thobroe

Royal split: William and Kate cheer on rival sides at Wales take on England in Six Nations clash

Wes Streeting MP - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - in Downing Street 12th March 2025 - the day before NHS England was abolished.

Scrapping NHS England is ‘beginning, not the end’ says Streeting, vowing to cut hundreds of quangos

A view of the pollution caused by garbage and various wastes following the thousands of Palestinians displaced under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel have returned to the northern Gaza Strip in Jabalia, Gaza on March 13, 2025.

US rejects Hamas’s ‘entirely impractical’ demands to implement ceasefire as talks reach impasse

Antoine Dupont and Gregory Alldritt of France lift the Six Nations Trophy after their team's victory during the Guinness Six Nations 2025 match between France and Scotland at Stade de France

France win Six Nations after beating Scotland, shattering England title hopes

The US has launched large strikes in Yemen as Donald Trump promised "overwhelming lethal force" until the Houthis cease attacks on shipping.

US launches strikes on Yemen as Trump promises 'overwhelming lethal force' against Houthis

Rich people are getting married at a way higher rate than those with lower incomes as the ‘marriage gap’ between rich and poor hits a record 51%.

'Only rich people are getting married', new research suggests, as ‘marriage gap’ widens