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MP Christopher Chope under fire for blocking anti-FGM bill
The MP who infuriated campaigners by objecting to a ban on upskirting has been heavily criticised after blocking another private members' bill.
Sir Christopher Chope shouted "object" in a debate on laws protecting children from female genital mutilation.
His Conservative colleague, Zac Goldsmith, said his actions were "appalling" - Lib Dem Tom Brake said the MP had "reached a new low".
Sir Christopher has argued his aim is to stop badly thought-out legislation.
He said he had not been objecting to the substance of the issue, but wanted to see all legislation properly debated.
But Parliamentary rules mean it only requires one MP to shout "object" to a private member's bill which is listed for a second reading but not debated to block its progress.
Mr Chope has a track record of objecting to them, arguing that he does it on a point of principle, because he does not agree with legislation being brought before Parliament on a Friday without enough time for a full debate.
Last year he sparked fury when he objected to another bill to make "upskirting" a criminal offence in England and Wales - that became law last month, after the bill got government backing.
Among others criticising his actions on Twitter, were the Labour MP David Lammy, who suggested Mr Chope "embodies a brand of thoughtless, regressive conservatism which can ruin lives" while anti-FGM campaigner Nimco Ali said she had "nothing but disgust" for Mr Chope.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said on Twitter he was "very disappointed" that the bill had been blocked adding: "FGM is child abuse. I am determined to stamp out this despicable and medieval practice. We will do all we can to protect girls at risk."
The MP who infuriated campaigners by objecting to a ban on upskirting has been heavily criticised after blocking another private members' bill.
Sir Christopher Chope shouted "object" in a debate on laws protecting children from female genital mutilation.
His Conservative colleague, Zac Goldsmith, said his actions were "appalling" - Lib Dem Tom Brake said the MP had "reached a new low".
Sir Christopher has argued his aim is to stop badly thought-out legislation.
He said he had not been objecting to the substance of the issue, but wanted to see all legislation properly debated.
But Parliamentary rules mean it only requires one MP to shout "object" to a private member's bill which is listed for a second reading but not debated to block its progress.
Mr Chope has a track record of objecting to them, arguing that he does it on a point of principle, because he does not agree with legislation being brought before Parliament on a Friday without enough time for a full debate.
Last year he sparked fury when he objected to another bill to make "upskirting" a criminal offence in England and Wales - that became law last month, after the bill got government backing.
Among others criticising his actions on Twitter, were the Labour MP David Lammy, who suggested Mr Chope "embodies a brand of thoughtless, regressive conservatism which can ruin lives" while anti-FGM campaigner Nimco Ali said she had "nothing but disgust" for Mr Chope.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said on Twitter he was "very disappointed" that the bill had been blocked adding: "FGM is child abuse. I am determined to stamp out this despicable and medieval practice. We will do all we can to protect girls at risk."
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The 71-year-old was knighted in the 2018 New Year’s honours for political and public service. He was elected as MP for Southampton Itchen in 1983 and rose ranks to serve Margaret Thatcher as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department For Enviroment. He then lost his seat during the 1992 election, but was re-elected as MP for Christchurch in 1997, where he has sat ever since. The father-of-two has seen his fair share of scandals, and in 2009 it was revealed that he had claimed £136,992 in parliamentary expenses, including £881 to repair a sofa. That same year he called for minimum wage to be abolished, arguing that it would open up the jobs market. He has repeatedly voted against same-sex marriage, and in 2013, he objected to the second reading of the Alan Turing Bill. He came under criticism in late 2014 for repeatedly blocking a bill that would ban the use of wild animals in circus performances. In October 2015, Chope joined fellow Conservative MPs in filibustering against a private member’s bill that would have placed restrictions on hospital parking charges for carers.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/16/sir-christopher-chope-hates-private-members-bills-but-has-created-31-in-the-last-year-7636993/?ito=cbshare
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