Home UK Who is the MP who blocked the upskirting law?

Who is the MP who blocked the upskirting law?

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Outrage and anger was sparked when a law to ban upskirting was stopped in its tracks when Sir Christopher Chope objected to it.

The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill has been prevented from being given a second reading in parliament as a result.

The Christchurch MP has a record of blocking private members' bills and is on a crusade to challenge many of them.

Who is the man with a vendetta against these bills?

Mr Chope has been branded a "maverick" by Culture Minister Margot James, who accused the 71-year-old Tory of bringing the Conservatives into disrepute.

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Video: 'Shame': Moment upskirting bill blocked

He is no stranger to controversy and has moved to block a number of bills that have significant public backing.

On Friday, as well as blocking a law that would see those who take photos up women's skirts without their consent face up to two years in jail, Mr Chope delayed legislation intended to give police dogs and horses extra legal protections from attack, and talked out attempts to reform mental health units.

A lion cub owned by Great British Circus at an event in Kings Langley
Image: A lion cub owned by Great British Circus at an event in Kings Langley

He has previously repeatedly blocked attempts to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

He also acted to block the posthumous pardon for Alan Turing, the man who cracked the Enigma code to help win the Second World War. In 1952, Turing was charged with homosexual offences and was later chemically castrated.

A notebook of British mathematician and pioneer in computer science Alan Turing is displayed in front of a photo of him during an auction preview in Hong Kong March 19, 2015. The notebook about mathematics and computer science written by Nazi-code breaker Turing will be sold at an auction, Bonhams auction house said in January. The 56-page manuscript is expected to fetch at least seven figures, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity, when it goes up for sale on April 13 in New York. REU
Image: Alan Turing helped defeat the Nazis in the Second World War

Of the 10 significant gay rights votes in the House of Commons since 1998, Mr Chope has voted against every bill to promote equal gay rights.

He voted twice against making same-sex marriage legal in the UK.

People celebrated with cake after same-sex marriage was voted in
Image: People celebrated with cake after same-sex marriage was voted in

By making a lengthy speech, he managed to 'talk-out' a bill to make it illegal for landlords to evict tenants who complained about housing.

The bathroom of a house raided by council, officers, immigration and police
Image: 'Revenge evictions' are when landlords kick out tenants who complain about living conditions

Using the same technique, Mr Chope ensured a bill to exempt carers from hospital car park charges was batted down.

Calls were made to stop carers from having to pay hospital car park fees
Image: Calls were made to stop carers from having to pay hospital car park fees

His critics may take pleasure in knowing he regularly gets his own attempts to push through legislation rejected as well.

Mr Chope, first elected in 1983, is widely regarded as a candle holder for the Thatcher legacy.

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