Dr Alexandra Walker, daughter of the late former Beverley and Holderness MP James Cran, has accused her father of emotional abuse during her childhood and into adulthood.
James Cran served as Conservative MP for Beverley from 1987 and, following boundary changes, for Beverley and Holderness until 2005. During his time in Parliament he held junior ministerial office at the Department of Social Security and was active on pensions and European affairs. He stood down at the 2005 general election and died in 2023 at the age of 79.
Dr Walker has campaigned to raise awareness and has written about her experiences as part of a book describing her process of recovery of what she says was emotional abuse.
In an interview reported by the i newspaper, she described her father as a “Jekyll and Hyde” figure whose behaviour could shift abruptly. She said the unpredictability of his moods was “terrifying” and that alcohol exacerbated his behaviour.
She recounted incidents from her childhood which she says illustrate the way she was treated, including being shut and locked in a car for “what felt like hours” after accidentally hitting him with a skimming stone and being physically restrained in public as a toddler following minor misbehavior. She describes another occasion where a frustrated Cran exploded at her as a child when she made a mistake at monopoly, throwing the board in the air and punishing her.
She said she now understands these experiences as part of a pattern of emotional abuse, describing how he would “start by cuddling me and then suddenly restrain me tightly”, leaving her confused and frightened by the sudden shift in behaviour. She has also recorded her recovery in her personal blog.
Dr Walker has also written about the longer-term impact of her upbringing in a Christian publication, reflecting on how family life shaped her wellbeing and faith, and how Christmas time was particularly difficult for her.
Dr Walker’s account represents her personal testimony about her upbringing and its effects. There have been no legal proceedings or findings in relation to Dr Walker’s allegations. James Cran is not able to respond to the claims, and no public statement has been issued by his family or representatives.
However Dr Walkers account adds a private dimension to the public record of a former local MP whose political career is still remembered by many in Beverley and Holderness.
If this article raises difficult issues for you or someone you know, support is available. In the UK, the NSPCC offers confidential advice and support for anyone concerned about abuse:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Headline photo credit: Dr Walker
Photo credit: Dr Walker