Conservative Party Conference: Mel B recalls domestic abuse to Tory MPs, demands reform

Mel B shared how she was “completely powerless” during 10 years of domestic abuse from her former partner.

The former Spice Girl spoke at a Conservative Party conference to appeal for more support for victims of domestic abuse.

Melanie Brown, 47, from Leeds spoke at a Sun and Women’s Aid event in Birmingham where she shared details of living with her abusive partner.

The singer became a patron for Women’s Aid in 2018 after leaving her ex partner that left her with “no way out”.

Brown was also awarded an MBE this year for her work with vulnerable women and raising awareness for victims and survivors of abuse.

In a moving speech, Mel B shared how domestic abuse was “everywhere” and shared that it’s not always linked to where you’re from.

She said: "You can be from a council estate, which I am, or you can be from a country estate - which I am now.”

Brown also added: “I’m here to say that abuse happens to everyone — regardless of race, gender, sexuality, whether you’re thin or curvy.”

Formerly known as ‘Scary Spice’, Brown told the event of her fears that the “massive issue of domestic abuse” will fall back down the agenda.

Mel B was concerned that with “these times of absolute economic chaos” that not enough will be done to support victims.

Mims Davies, who is the Home Office Minister addressed her concerns saying that: “It is time that we really push on and help women to move forward from this”.

Mims Davies and Mel B were joined on a panel that included Farah Nazeer from Women’s Aid, Kate Ferguson from The Sun and Maggie Blyth who is the national police lead for domestic abuse.

What did Mel B say during her speech at the Fringe?

Mel B gave a powerful speech on her experiences with domestic abuse during the Tory party’s fringe.

Brown began her speech by saying :"I am not here because I am Mel B, Scary Spice from the Spice Girls.

"I am here because I am Melanie Brown MBE."

She then added: “As a Spice Girl I’m the embodiment of girl power, and for ten years I was completely powerless over this man.”

The singer said she was  "probably the last person you would expect to find at a Tory Party conference", but said she was there to call for more support to victims of domestic abuse.

Brown asked for more support from the court system for victims sharing her personal experiences by saying: "Every judge I have come across looks in complete horror like, ‘Well, you look put together, you look all right, what is wrong with you?’"

The singer also expressed how the abuse was affecting her mentally, telling the audience: “I got to a point where I actually wanted to die by committing suicide. Fortunately enough it didn’t happen. But the relationship I was in — there was no way out. I couldn’t pick up the phone to call my mum or my friends.”

Mel shared how she was “completely isolated from her friends and family” saying that:  “it didn’t happen overnight. It happened bit by bit by bit. They chip away at you.”

After seven previous attempts to leave her ex-husband, Mel was finally able to break free after her dad passed away.

Mel told the conference how she vowed: “don’t you worry dad, I will leave him” as he took his final breath.

Who was Mel B’s ex-husband?

Brown first met her ex-husband Stephen Belfonte in February 2007 and they married in June of the same year.

The couple became parents to their daughter Madison in 2011.

Reports of cracks in their marriage began to appear in 2014 when Mel appeared on The X Factor covered in bruises and scratches.

In 2017, the singer filed for a divorce against her husband.

She was reportedly given a restraining order in 2017 over claims Belfonte was beating and sexually exploiting her.

Belfonte has denied accusations that he beat Melanie Brown.