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Nikki Sinclaire: 'I have this thing about injustice' | Nikki Sinclaire: 'I have this thing about injustice' |
(1 day later) | |
The UK's first transsexual parliamentary politician Nikki Sinclaire has spent much of her life fighting battles - personal and professional. | |
As she is cleared of misconduct in a public office and fraud charges the BBC looks at her political and private life. | As she is cleared of misconduct in a public office and fraud charges the BBC looks at her political and private life. |
The title of Nikki Sinclaire's second book, Never Give Up, is a clear indication of her determination. | The title of Nikki Sinclaire's second book, Never Give Up, is a clear indication of her determination. |
"Because of the things that have happened to me, I have this thing about injustice. I feel I have to stand up whether it's myself, or other people," she told the BBC following its launch. | "Because of the things that have happened to me, I have this thing about injustice. I feel I have to stand up whether it's myself, or other people," she told the BBC following its launch. |
"I hate it when authorities put down ordinary people and I feel the need to stand up for them." | "I hate it when authorities put down ordinary people and I feel the need to stand up for them." |
Her resolve emerged at a very young age. She was just eight years old when she became interested in politics while watching the news after school. | Her resolve emerged at a very young age. She was just eight years old when she became interested in politics while watching the news after school. |
But it was a couple of years later, during the Winter of Discontent, that her interest really peaked. | But it was a couple of years later, during the Winter of Discontent, that her interest really peaked. |
"My father supported the unions and I would question him - why this conflict? I thought the unions were supposed to be for the working man, and also the Labour Party? | "My father supported the unions and I would question him - why this conflict? I thought the unions were supposed to be for the working man, and also the Labour Party? |
"He could never answer that satisfactorily to me. Coming from a very poor, working-class council estate, I began to think 'why don't we have these things?' | "He could never answer that satisfactorily to me. Coming from a very poor, working-class council estate, I began to think 'why don't we have these things?' |
Her "very working class" father was "perturbed" when he learned of her admiration for Margaret Thatcher. | Her "very working class" father was "perturbed" when he learned of her admiration for Margaret Thatcher. |
As her political obsession intensified in her teens, so did a very private struggle. | As her political obsession intensified in her teens, so did a very private struggle. |
Since the age of three, she believed she was trapped in the wrong body. | Since the age of three, she believed she was trapped in the wrong body. |
It wasn't until she reached 16 that Ms Sinclaire confided her feelings to a doctor, spilling out "16 years of hurt", only to be told it was a "fantasy". | It wasn't until she reached 16 that Ms Sinclaire confided her feelings to a doctor, spilling out "16 years of hurt", only to be told it was a "fantasy". |
Undeterred, she eventually underwent gender reassignment surgery at 23. | Undeterred, she eventually underwent gender reassignment surgery at 23. |
A staunch Eurosceptic, she became an active member of UKIP and held many positions within the party. After 10 years - and two defeats in UK general elections - she was successfully voted in as the party's MEP for the West Midlands in June 2009. | A staunch Eurosceptic, she became an active member of UKIP and held many positions within the party. After 10 years - and two defeats in UK general elections - she was successfully voted in as the party's MEP for the West Midlands in June 2009. |
But her success within UKIP was short-lived. Just nine months later, in March 2010, Ms Sinclaire was expelled from the party after refusing to take part in a multi-national group it had joined in the European Parliament, citing some members "homophobic views". | But her success within UKIP was short-lived. Just nine months later, in March 2010, Ms Sinclaire was expelled from the party after refusing to take part in a multi-national group it had joined in the European Parliament, citing some members "homophobic views". |
It was a blow she was not going to accept easily. In December that year, having taken her former bosses to a tribunal, a judge found in her favour when UKIP failed to file a defence in time. | It was a blow she was not going to accept easily. In December that year, having taken her former bosses to a tribunal, a judge found in her favour when UKIP failed to file a defence in time. |
As an independent MEP, Ms Sinclaire continued her tireless campaign for a referendum on Europe. | As an independent MEP, Ms Sinclaire continued her tireless campaign for a referendum on Europe. |
In 2011, she gathered 100,000 names to a petition, which led to a Conservative rebellion of about 70 MPs, and "forced David Cameron to the despatch box", a proud Ms Sinclaire later told the BBC. | In 2011, she gathered 100,000 names to a petition, which led to a Conservative rebellion of about 70 MPs, and "forced David Cameron to the despatch box", a proud Ms Sinclaire later told the BBC. |
Again, the joy was short-lived. By February 2012, West Midlands Police had begun their fraud investigation and arrested Ms Sinclaire on suspicion of defrauding the European Parliament. | Again, the joy was short-lived. By February 2012, West Midlands Police had begun their fraud investigation and arrested Ms Sinclaire on suspicion of defrauding the European Parliament. |
"The allegations at hand are old allegations from a disgruntled ex-employee", Ms Sinclaire said in a statement, adding she had "nothing to hide". | "The allegations at hand are old allegations from a disgruntled ex-employee", Ms Sinclaire said in a statement, adding she had "nothing to hide". |
The following year, Ms Sinclaire decided to reveal her gender reassignment secret, which she said was the result of threats from UKIP and journalists. | The following year, Ms Sinclaire decided to reveal her gender reassignment secret, which she said was the result of threats from UKIP and journalists. |
She later went on to say she had been "overwhelmed" by the support from members of the public. | She later went on to say she had been "overwhelmed" by the support from members of the public. |
In June 2014, Ms Sinclaire lost her seat to Labour's Neena Gill and a month later, more than two years after her first police interview, she was charged with money laundering and misconduct in public office. | In June 2014, Ms Sinclaire lost her seat to Labour's Neena Gill and a month later, more than two years after her first police interview, she was charged with money laundering and misconduct in public office. |
She was accused of making false and dishonest submissions for travelling expenses and transferring the proceeds of fraud through a bank account - something the politician said she "strongly refuted". | She was accused of making false and dishonest submissions for travelling expenses and transferring the proceeds of fraud through a bank account - something the politician said she "strongly refuted". |
It took another two years for the case to come to court, ironically, scheduled just days after Ms Sinclaire's British independence dream came true. | It took another two years for the case to come to court, ironically, scheduled just days after Ms Sinclaire's British independence dream came true. |
The day after the referendum, there was not a hint of the impending court proceedings on her Twitter account. | The day after the referendum, there was not a hint of the impending court proceedings on her Twitter account. |
Instead, as she celebrated the victory, her doggedness shone through once again. | Instead, as she celebrated the victory, her doggedness shone through once again. |
"We did it Maggie," she tweeted. "We did it. We got our country back. I never gave up." | "We did it Maggie," she tweeted. "We did it. We got our country back. I never gave up." |
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