To be fucking furious that a Tory MP just prevented upskirting being made a criminal offence?

[gracielacey]

Tory MP Christopher Chope has just singlehandedly prevented the passing of the private members bill supported by the government that would have made upskirting a sexual offence, by shouting Object.

Can I urge you all to leave a message on his parliamentary office answerphone and email him to ask why he thinks men should be entitled to photograph women's genitalia?

(Post Edited by MNHQ)

But this isn't exclusively something he has objected to. I'm not saying that he isn't wrong for objecting to this, but he does it all the time, he doesn't like PMBs on principal. He hasn't objected to this bill specifically.

He voted against this because it was being pushed through in a less than half filled chamber on a Friday afternoon without proper debate. I think Upskirting should of course be illegal but there appeared to be less than 10 MPs sitting to vote on a new law. I think any new law should be properly debated. Imagine a less than half full House of Commons voted to do something you completely disagreed with. Would that be democratic? Now the proposal will be properly debated on 6 July and will definitely be passed!

There wasn't a proper debate precisely because Davies and Chope spent 4 hours filibustering the previous bill, so that there would be zero time available for a debate on the upskirting bill.

He is the literal reason there wasn't a debate.

And there were way more than 10 MPs in there, by the way.

I support the premise behind the bill 100% but I don't think he did the wrong thing. I do think that legislation should be properly scrutinised and debated. This is an important issue, more MPs should have turned up.

AND I'm not a Tory either.

The proposed bill would have gone to committee and been scrutinised there, the MP knew this. so of course he did the wrong thing.

The point here is that Scotland has had a similar law for a decade or so, the last Lab or the present Tory Gov could have bought in their own bill, they chose not too.

Yeah sounds like he likes to play silly buggers with the rules because he doesnt like the system. Did he forget what he was elected to do? Serves him right if it comes back to bite him in the ass. Very appropriate.

Why was this a private members bill and not a proper piece of legislation to be properly debated? It's pretty important?

The point here is that Scotland has had a similar law for a decade or so, the last Lab or the present Tory Gov could have bought in their own bill, they chose not too.

I don't understand this argument. Scotland has a separate legal system...what's the point of that if we just automatically do the same thing all the time?

Again, not opposed to the premise of the bill and would be very happy if the government were to propose it. Just can't see the issue with making sure it's done properly. It's creating a new criminal offence, it's a big deal.

Yes surely he is elected to represent his constituents, not arse around messing around the PMB system. He is a dick. I still don't think it's fair to single out this specific bill as something he has objected to specifically because he wants to up skirt women.

I still don't think it's fair to single out this specific bill as something he has objected to specifically because he wants to up skirt women.

I don’t think it’s fair to abuse parliamentary process, repeatedly, and then smugly smirk away once you’ve managed it. He’s made his bed, now everyone thinks he’s a pervert. Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

Anyone up for de-bagging the little creep and posting pictures of the contents of his y-fronts??

Moon, he did specifically object to this bill (which had government support) though; he did that today, by saying Object. He hasn't explained why he did that yet.

Odious cunt of a man

!Moon he hasn't objected to this bill specifically

That is precisely, specifically, literally, what Chope has done: objected to this bill.
Do I have a huge interest in his motivation? No
Do I have a huge interest in the motivation of men who degrade women by upskirting? No.

Ok I admit 10 MPs present was an underestimation but certainly less than 10% present. Let’s take a less unequivocal and very mumsnet issue. Imagine less than 10% of MPs vote for a new law banning Transgender women accessing female toilets. Presumably this would be ok? I’m genuinely not being provocative, I’m trying to show why I believe in the principle of new laws being voted for by more than 10% of the House. We can’t have this principle only when it suits our perspective is my point!

I wouldn’t call him a cunt. It’s too much of a compliment.

My email to him, should anyone wish to use it:

Dear Mr. Chope,

I should be very interested to hear the reasoning for your objection today in Parliament to the bill proposed to make the taking of ‘upskirt’ pictures a specific crime.

I understand you are not a supporter of private members’ bills in general, but I should be interested to hear why this particular bill aroused such feelings of dissent in you.

Should it not be law that people should be able to go about their business without being afraid of people making and distributing sexual images of them? Or is making a point about your feelings on an established part of this nation’s democratic process more important to you?

I will eagerly - if not hopefully - await your response.

Yours,

Elledouble

@Failbydefault and what you can’t have is elite white men derailing the process because it suits them, which is exactly what happened today. He made a mockery of parliament and it isn’t the first time.

I am disgusted with this MP.
But I resent the posts from people saying Tory voters should hang their head in shame.
It is one individual. He is a twat but I didn’t vote for him. My conservative mp is a forward thinking female. There are plenty of twatty labour mp’s as well.

Soddingunicorns, so maybe party leaders should have demanded their MPs attend to debate this. And filibustering should be banned!

I don't understand this argument. Scotland has a separate legal system, what's the point of that if we just automatically do the same thing all the time?

The point i was making is that like most people, i d have never guessed that taking pictures of a women's crotch without their knowledge was a lawful activity,
It should have been made illegal years ago, i was not suggesting we copy each and every Scottish law.

620

622

Two points about already having a Scottish bill - that has been operating for years and therefore the people drawing up this bill had something to go on, meaning scrutiny was less needed.

Second - the point was made today that in Scotland it's "upkilting" - so protects man while women only legislation takes longer......

Why do some posters continue to believe that the bill would have been pushed through this afternoon? It would then have gone to committee and then back to the House. Also he’s supported plenty of pmb in the past - ones that have suited him

second - the point was made today that in Scotland it's "upkilting" - so protects man while women only legislation takes longer

This legislation isn't even women only - it includes kilts!

mobile.twitter.com/beaniegigi/status/1007563487965601792

^ This is the female campaigner who has led the fight for the law.

Moon, he did specifically object to this bill (which had government support) though; he did that today, by saying Object. He hasn't explained why he did that yet.

I was under the impression that he makes a habit of objecting to PMBs, he objected to the other one being discussed this afternoon as well didn't he? He does it all the time? I can't really feel sorry for him if people end up thinking he is an old perve, but I feel like there is a bigger issue of being allowed to do it in the first place.