The last twelve months have been tough but I have learnt so much. Last week was a week of revelations, so make sure to read through to December.
January: Ed Davey MP and Wendy Chamberlain MP
We started the year with a heartbreaking drama from ITV. Mr Bates vs The Post Office was upsetting to watch, but it was also a huge motivator for me. Based on the true story of Welsh sub-postmaster, Alan Bates, it charted his 23-year-fight to expose the truth. My campaign is in its infancy compared to Alan's and if he can go for 23 years, so can I (although I'd really love it if I didn't have to).
The tactics used on Alan by the Post Office are the same as Liberal Democrats have wielded over me. Trying to discredit me, trick me, lie to me, lie about me...we were even ignored by the same politician - Ed Davey MP, who this petition is directed at.
After watching the programme, I wrote to Ed Davey and I also sent him a video recording of me asking him to listen to me. I'm still waiting for a reply.
We ended the month with something that floored me. Wendy Chamberlain MP - my former friend and police officer, Chief Whip for Liberal Democrats in Westminster - blatantly lied to Untribal podcast about me. In the listeners questions section at the end of the podcast, Wendy Chamberlain was asked by Innes Burns what the outcome of the investigation was into my claims. He pushed her three times. Wendy told him that it has been investigated, it has been reported on and it has been dealt with.
Watch Wendy Chamberlain MP lie to Untribal
As delighted as I was that someone was finally asking questions, the bravado that I showed on twitter was not how I was fully feeling. I was gutted that it was so easy for Wendy to lie about me, and it had huge impacts on my mental health this year. The idea that a woman in Wendy's position and with her background can lie, obstructing the course of justice in the process and get away with it, is terrifying to me.
February: Emma Responds
Untribal offered me an opportunity to respond. I've had a really raw deal with the press but I nervously accepted the invitation, and I'm pleased I did. You can listen here:
Emma Responds: Untribal Podcast February 2024
I still have contacts within Lib Dems in London who will occasionally warn me that trouble could be heading my way. Following the release of my interview, I received such a phone call. It was very scary as I was also going through scans to determine if my breast cancer had returned in my lungs, so between the threats of cancer and the Lib Dems, plus the trauma of watching Wendy Chamberlain lie about my experience - an experience which includes being assaulted, MP's bullying staff so badly that they attempted suicide and then were forced into signing NDA's - I was really on rock bottom and I was worried that this may in some way be the end of me.
But I had to push on - and quickly, before the Lib Dems got to me. I recorded a series of videos highlighting my concerns - note, my CONCERNS - that paedophiles may exist either within Lib Dem circles, or adjacent to the Lib Dems, and that if they don't already there is a high chance that they would go undetected (in a party that has a long history of child abuse).
You can watch this series of 4 videos on YouTube here
June: My first public event (The truth about Edinburgh West Liberal Democrats)
I had viewed venues in North East Fife and Edinburgh West with the intention of doing a tour of community centres to inform voters about my campaign. My confidence and energy had taken a complete battering so I decided to keep things simple and run a pilot event in my local community. This was brilliant for a few reasons - a) surprisingly, the local church agreed to host my event b) they later told me that members of their congregation had vouched for me because they believe me c) a small number of people attended, but they were very engaged. Someone who is involved in politics offered to distribute leaflets for me and people who weren't involved in politics at all came along - and were very interested in what I had to say.
I had invited Christine Jardine MP and Alex Cole Hamilton MSP along, as the event focused on Christine's bullying and Alex's cover-up, but they never showed.
The event gave me a huge boost whilst also taking a huge amount out of me. I took myself off for counselling and decided that to come back strong, I first had to go away. I decided that I would stop posting videos to twitter/x because the act of constantly repeating my trauma without any change was becoming damaging to me.
December: More evidence and a crucial realisation
Last week was a game changer for three reasons.
1) My contact in London HQ has provided me with solid evidence that the Liberal Democrats are still using NDA's and tactics to silence staff
2) I'm now in receipt of a document that proves Alex Cole Hamilton MSP is not fit to lead a political party or manage staff.
These two crucial pieces of information arrived within a day of each other, and have given me motivation to continue fighting in 2025. And then...
3) Words matter. When I first started questioning behaviours internally, I said that I had concerns, complaints and grievances. I never said that I was making a qualifying disclosure in the public interest because back in 2020 I didn't know that was a thing. Whenever I complained to the party, I was never sent the whistleblowing policy. I was told by everyone that it was a member complaint or a staff grievance.
It is not a grievance. Am I victim blaming myself again, or could it be that the reason I'm not being heard is that I haven't used the correct language? Senior Lib Dems have been tagged in countless posts about my whistleblowing, and they have chosen to block me and others. Thoughts to ponder.
I am whistleblowing because I have concerns about the behaviours of politicians and leaders within a political party. I will be taking a different approach in 2025 and I hope that you can continue to support me by sharing this petition with your friends and family.
A huge thank you to every one who has signed, promoted or donated to this petition, shared my posts on X, messaged me with words of support, attended my event in Barnton and willed me on. I hope you have a peaceful Christmas if you celebrate, and a happy and healthy New Year.