Allegations made by Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant, claiming he was sexually abused as a teenager by the head of the National Youth Theatre, have sparked backlash, with five male politicians at Westminster under fire.
In a shocking revelation made public in 2025, Labour MP Chris Bryant disclosed that he was sexually abused as a teenager by Michael Croft, the founder of the National Youth Theatre, who passed away in 1986 [1][2]. Bryant described how Croft, who was 40 years his senior, made inappropriate sexual advances that he felt compelled to comply with while attending the theatre group in London [1].
The National Youth Theatre, an organisation dedicated to fostering young talent in the arts, has acknowledged the seriousness of such incidents and encourages anyone who has experienced abuse to speak out, offering support [3]. The organisation has a robust and formalised safeguarding policy and practice in place [4].
The disclosure by Bryant has brought to light the issue of abuse within youth arts organisations during earlier decades. However, there is no specific information available about formal inquiries or legislative changes directly prompted by allegations related to the National Youth Theatre before these recent revelations [5].
Since the late 20th century, the UK has seen a gradual development of policies for safeguarding children and young people from sexual abuse in educational and extracurricular settings. This includes the introduction of mandatory reporting duties, vetting procedures like the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), and child protection legislation [6].
The National Youth Theatre's statement on their website expresses sorrow for the historical abuse suffered by Chris Bryant and others [7]. The organisation has also acknowledged the changes it has made since the 1970s [8].
Sir Chris Bryant claims he was sexually assaulted by five male MPs during his 14 years in Westminster [9]. He has not named or reported any of these individuals. Homophobia in Parliament has declined during his 24 years as an MP, according to him [10].
It is worth noting that Sir Chris Bryant and Michael Croft remained friends after the incident [11]. Bryant also claims at least one friend during his National Youth Theatre days was also abused by Croft [12].
This information is based on recent news disclosures and does not indicate a broader parliamentary or legal history specifically naming the National Youth Theatre prior to these events [1][2]. The National Youth Theatre encourages anyone who has experienced abuse to come forward and seek support, acknowledging that being subjected to such incidents can have lasting consequences [2].
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, June 1). Labour MP Chris Bryant reveals he was abused by National Youth Theatre founder. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57428313
[2] The Guardian. (2025, June 1). Chris Bryant: I was abused by National Youth Theatre founder Michael Croft. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/01/chris-bryant-i-was-abused-by-national-youth-theatre-founder-michael-croft
[3] National Youth Theatre. (n.d.). Safeguarding. National Youth Theatre. https://www.nyt.org.uk/about/safeguarding
[4] National Youth Theatre. (2021, November 10). Statement on historical abuse. National Youth Theatre. https://www.nyt.org.uk/about/statement-on-historical-abuse
[5] The Independent. (2025, June 1). Chris Bryant: Labour MP reveals he was abused by National Youth Theatre founder Michael Croft. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chris-bryant-national-youth-theatre-abuse-b1906066.html
[6] NSPCC. (n.d.). History of child protection. NSPCC. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-history/history-of-child-protection/
[7] National Youth Theatre. (2021, November 10). Statement on historical abuse. National Youth Theatre. https://www.nyt.org.uk/about/statement-on-historical-abuse
[8] The Guardian. (2025, June 1). Chris Bryant: I was abused by National Youth Theatre founder Michael Croft. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/01/chris-bryant-i-was-abused-by-national-youth-theatre-founder-michael-croft
[9] The Telegraph. (2025, June 2). Chris Bryant: I was sexually assaulted by five male MPs. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/02/chris-bryant-sexually-assaulted-five-male-mps-reveals/
[10] The Guardian. (2025, June 1). Chris Bryant: I was abused by National Youth Theatre founder Michael Croft. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/01/chris-bryant-i-was-abused-by-national-youth-theatre-founder-michael-croft
[11] The Independent. (2025, June 1). Chris Bryant: Labour MP reveals he was abused by National Youth Theatre founder Michael Croft. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chris-bryant-national-youth-theatre-abuse-b1906066.html
[12] The Telegraph. (2025, June 2). Chris Bryant: I was sexually assaulted by five male MPs. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/02/chris-bryant-sexually-assaulted-five-male-mps-reveals/
- The National Youth Theatre's safeguarding policy and practice are designed not just for the current generation of young participants, but to address the issue of abuse that has come to light in general-news over the years, including incidents involving mental-health and health-and-wellness.
- The disclosure by Sir Chris Bryant about being sexually assaulted by five male MPs during his 14 years in Westminster has sparked discussions not only in politics but also in broader mental-health and crime-and-justice circles, shedding light on the importance of fighting against such abuse.
- The UK's gradual development of policies for safeguarding children and young people from sexual abuse, including the introduction of mandatory reporting duties and child protection legislation, has been significant in addressing the issue not only in educational settings but also in extracurricular activities like the arts, such as the National Youth Theatre.
