Tory Sir Christopher Chope has had dinosaur bunting hung on his Commons office as MPs vented anger at his decision to block tougher laws against female genital mutilation (FGM).
On Friday Sir Christopher shouted ‘object’ to prevent the progress of a Bill allowing the courts to issue protection orders if they think a child is at risk from FGM.
The move sparked fury from fellow Conservatives, with Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss vowing to track him down and confront him in person this week.
Pictures emerged today of Sir Christopher’s Commons office decorated with images of dinosaurs, in an apparent reference to the controversy.
But he has defended himself in a letter to local Tory association members, saying he was only ensuring the Bill received ‘appropriate amounts of scrutiny’.
Pictures emerged today of Sir Christopher’s Commons office decorated with images of dinosaurs, in an apparent reference to the controversy
Tory MP Christopher Chope (pictured in the Commons on Friday) is facing more anger over blocking legislation protecting girls from genital mutilation
The intervention by Sir Christopher on Friday was the second time he had acted against the law.
He is set to come under more fire from MPs later as Equalities Secretary Penny Mordaunt has been summoned to answer an urgent question on FGM.
Chief Whip Julian Smith has said he is working to find a way to bring the Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill back to the Commons in government time, meaning it could not be so easily blocked.
But Sir Christopher has accused his critics of ‘virtue signalling’ and defended his actions, arguing they were aimed at ensuring proper parliamentary scrutiny.
Sir Christopher is notorious for using arcane House of Commons procedures to stop measures put forward by backbenchers despite them having widespread support.
He often argues that the government should make time for such laws so they get more detailed scrutiny, and previously stood in the way of a ban on ‘upskirting’ and a posthumous pardon for mathematician Alan Turing.
In his letter to local activists in Christchurch, published by the Bournemouth Echo, Sir Christopher said there had been a ‘predictable Twitter storm’.
An anti-FGM campaigner had told him the Bill could have led to “much injustice and family trauma” if the powers within it were used improperly, he argued.
“We have to wake up to the need to jettison antiquated, opaque procedures in this place,” he added.
Speaking on Sky News’ Ridge on Sunday programme, Ms Truss said: ‘I was just absolutely appalled because we know there has only been one conviction against somebody for female genital mutilation.
‘This is an action that harms the lives of girls, this is happening in our country in the 21st century.
‘I find that appalling and we need to do much, much more to stop it, and when I see one of my colleagues opposing a measure that could have saved girls’ lives, could have saved girls from that horrendous experience, I am absolutely appalled by that.’
She went on: ‘I will be looking for him round the Commons and I think Conservatives do need to put peer pressure on our colleagues who are stopping these types of things happening.’
Mr Brokenshire told BBC’s Andrew Marr Show Sir Christopher’s actions were ‘really shocking on such a serious issue’.
‘It is hugely disappointing that this Bill is not able to proceed,’ he said.
‘That’s why we are now looking urgently to get government time for legislation to make this happen.
‘Obviously, Sir Christopher’s own association is investigating this, I think that’s the best place for this to be dealt with, but we are determined to take action to confront and combat FGM, that’s why we saw this legislation as really positive, had cross party support and why we’re determined to take further action.’
Under Commons procedures, MPs take part in a ballot to decide the priority given to their Private Members’ Bills.
Specific Fridays are earmarked for dealing with the legislation. However, laws that are not high enough on the list to have been debated by 2.30pm are then vulnerable to being derailed by lone opponents.
If anyone shouts ‘object’ when they are proposed, a second reading is denied and they go back into the queue to be considered at a later date.
The new law would have given councils preventative powers to protect young girls at risk of FGM.
It went through the House of Lords unopposed, but was prevented from progressing by Sir Christopher in November – and again on Friday.
Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss told Sky News yesterday she would be ‘looking for’ Sir Christopher to take him to task over his action