Labour MP bravely reveals she was 'living in a state of permanent anxiety and stress and trauma' in emotionally abusive relationship

Anna McMorrin, Welsh Labour Party MP, has spoken to GB News' Gloria De Piero about her campaign to ensure law acknowledges "coercive emotional abuse" as a "very real thing that women face".

The Shadow Minister for Victims and Youth Justice spoke about a former relationship where she experienced coercive emotional abusive.

Anna McMorrin MP explained the signs of a controlling relationship and the emotional and psychological impact the abuse had on her, telling Gloria De Piero: "Using put downs a lot, using control of a situation, belittling me when I want to have certain opinions, telling me that I was going crazy when I tried to argue a different view, using withdrawal and silent treatment, as well, as a punishment.

"So, all of these are quite small things, but, added up, day after day, you start living in a state of permanent anxiety and stress and trauma, not knowing what's real and what's not."

The Welsh Labour MP said "when you get into a relationship which is more coercive and controlling and manipulative, hugely toxic, then you wonder, 'what is truth and what isn't?' You question yourself because they are constantly questioning you and criticising you, telling me I’m going mad, telling me I need mental health treatment because I lost my temper because he wound me up so much."

"And that that becomes the norm to live with, that stress and anxiety."

GB News' Gloria De Piero asked Anna McMorrin about how she coped with the psychological impact of living in that kind of situation.

The Shadow Victims Minister used the term "trauma-bonded" in relation to her experience, explaining that "almost it is normal to live with that trauma. So you're constantly doing things to not upset the person".

Anna McMorrin MP gave her advice to victims living in emotionally coercive relationships, saying "I want any woman out there to know is that you can leave. There are many people in these kinds of relationships, you don't need everything in place to go."

"You just need to say, 'now I need to get out', and go. And I think the other thing to remember is once you've gone it’s that that's not the easy bit."

"It was far easier to stay, but once you've gone that is the hard bit. Don't expect things to get easy straight away. It takes time, and it took time," said McMorrin.

Anna McMorrin MP is campaigning for reform in the legal system in its treatment of victims of coercive emotional abuse and told GB News "Every week, most days, I speak to victims. Women who are in or have been in awful abusive relationships, unimaginable circumstances. And they're treated appallingly by the courts, by the justice system."

"That's why I want to speak about a past relationship that I’ve had, that I feel needs speaking about" said Ms McMorrin.