‘Just appalling’: Tory MP Christopher Chope AGAIN uses obscure Commons procedure to block law protecting girls from genital mutilation
- Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope has blocked a law protecting children from FGM
- The veteran Conservative had prevented the same Bill from progressing last year
- Sir Christopher also stopped legislation banning ‘upskirting’ from going through
Tory MP Christopher Chope was facing a fresh wave of anger today after blocking legislation protecting girls from genital mutilation.
The veteran Conservative 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.
It is the second time he has acted against the law – sparking howls of protest from fellow MPs.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘Outraged Chris Chope has blocked the FGM safeguarding Bill in Parliament today. His actions are wrong, pure & simple.’
Sir Christopher is notorious for using arcane House of Commons procedures to stop measures put forward by backbenchers despite them having widespread support.
Tory MP Christopher Chope (pictured in the Commons today) was facing a fresh wave of anger today after blocking legislation protecting girls from genital mutilation
Tory MP Zac Goldsmith said the fact Sir Christopher had stepped in once more was ‘just appalling’
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was ‘outraged’ by the move, while Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he was ‘very disappointed’
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.
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 today.
Tory MP Zac Goldsmith said the fact Sir Christopher had stepped in once more was ‘just appalling’.
He also dismissed the idea that Sir Christopher had a ‘principled objection’ to Private Members’ Bills, pointing out that he did not object to plans put forward by his friends.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said he was ‘very disappointed’.
‘FGM is child abuse. I am determined to stamp out this despicable and medieval practice,’ he wrote on Twitter.
MPs did debate Sir Christopher’s own Value Added Tax Bill today, which proposed VAT changes including exemptions for women’s sanitary products, repairs and improvements to historic buildings and domestic fuel or power.
Urging colleagues to support it he railed against restrictions in EU law and said the Treasury’s ‘mindset’ appears to be ‘far too negative and unimaginative’ on a lot of issues.
However, he later withdrew the Bill amid Government and Labour opposition.
Under Commons procedures, MPs take part in a ballot to decide the priority given to their Private Members’ Bills