*UNDER CONSTRUCTION* Signal-boosting #ToryBritain truths to the nation. Helping YOU be part of the fightback.
Tory MP for: Christchurch (Dorset, SW England)
First elected to this seat: 1997
2017 majority over Labour: 25,171 (49.1%)
Seat at-risk ranking: 317th (out of 317 Tory MPs) – the safest Tory seat in the country
Previously Tory MP for: Southampton Itchen (1983-1992)
[Wikipedia article on Christopher Chope]
[Wikipedia article on Christchurch constituency]
From iNews: Christopher Chope, the Tory MP who controversially blocked the parliamentary bill to make upskirting a criminal offence, has blocked a bill to make it easier to prevent female genital mutilation of children.
From The Guardian: Christopher Chope, the Conservative MP who achieved notoriety last month after blocking the progress of a bill to outlaw upskirting, has used parliamentary procedure to obstruct a plan to hold a global women’s conference in the Commons.
There were shouts of “shame” after the veteran MP for Christchurch objected to the motion, read out in the Commons late on Monday, which would have allowed the venue to be used in the autumn for the Women MPs of the World conference.
If these are not objected to, they can be passed with an instant verbal vote. However, when Davies read out the motion, Chope shouted “object”, meaning it could not pass.
The new measure obstructed by Chope proposed allowing the Commons to be used by conference delegates on a non-sitting day in November.
The motion said Women MPs of the World “provides a unique opportunity to gather parliamentarians from across the world to engage in discussions about equal representation and bring about social change”.
From Sky News: A proposed law to make “upskirting” a specific criminal offence has been blocked by a Tory MP.
The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill was stopped in its tracks when #Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope objected to it being given a second reading in the Commons.
The bill, which was proposed by Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse and supported by ministers, was expected to get the nod through the Commons on Friday.
Blocking its progress only requires one MP to shout “object” when the title of a private member’s bill is read out.
From Metro: Plans to give police dogs and horses extra legal protections from attacks have been blocked by a Tory MP. There were groans in the Commons as Sir Christopher Chope dealt a blow to campaigners by announcing he objected to the Animal Welfare Service Animals Bill.
From the Guardian: A Conservative MP has blocked a proposed law to introduce free hospital parking for carers by speaking in the House of Commons for 93 minutes in order to use up the time allocated for the debate.
A private member’s bill brought forward by Julie Cooper, Labour MP for Burnley, set out a proposed exemption to hospital parking charges for carers. At the moment hospitals have discretionary powers to grant exemptions to parking charges.
Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley, deployed a tactic called filibustering – where MPs speak for so long that a vote is delayed or prevented – and spoke about his opposition to the bill for more than an hour and a half.
He was aided by the Conservative MPs Christopher Chope and David Nuttall, who spoke for another hour and 20 minutes between them.
From the Independent: Seven male Tory MPs voted against a bill to make big companies reveal their gender pay gap, it has been revealed. They were Adam Afriyie (Windsor), Aidan Burley (Cannock Chase), Christopher Chope (Christchurch), Stewart Jackson (Peterborough), David Nuttall (Bury North), Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury), and John Whittingdale (Maldon).