I’m no pervert, insists MP who blocked legal bid to ban ‘upskirting’
THE Conservative MP who single-handedly blocked anti-upskirting legislation has defended his objection to the bill.
Sir Christopher Chope said he supported the ban on the ‘vulgar, humiliating and unacceptable’ act and added: ‘The suggestion that I am some kind of pervert is a complete travesty of the truth.’
In an interview with his local paper, the Daily Echo, the Tory grandee said he objected to the bill because he is opposed to the use of backbench private members’ bills to pass new laws. He and others claim that the bills lack sufficient scrutiny.
On Friday the MP for Christchurch in Dorset shouted down the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill which would have made upskirting a criminal offence. But yesterday he said: ‘I feel a bit sore about being scapegoated over this. The suggestion that I am some kind of pervert is a complete travesty of the truth.
‘It’s defamatory of my character and it’s very depressing some of my colleagues have been perpetuating that in the past 48 hours.’
Sir Christopher urged the Government to find the ‘fastest, fairest and surest passage’ for a bill banning the act of taking pictures up another person’s clothing without consent.
He also accused ministers of ‘ hijacking’ backbenchers’ time with the Friday afternoon debate.
The MP faced a barrage of criticism and was heckled with cries of ‘shame’ when he shouted an objection during the second reading of the bill. Gina Martin, an upskirting victim whose petition to ban the act won widespread political support, said the move had left her extremely upset.
Culture minister Margot James said Sir Christopher had brought the Tories into disrepute, while the Prime Minister expressed her ‘disappointment’ at his decision.
Without a specific law, upskirting victims in England and Wales must seek prosecution through other legal avenues such as outraging public decency or harassment. A law already exists in Scot- land and the blocked bill would have seen upskirting offenders face up to two years in prison.
Yesterday Mrs May said the Government would provide time for anti-upskirting legislation to pass through Parliament.
‘It is an invasive, offensive act and we need to take action against it,’ she added.
In protest at Sir Christopher’s actions, an activist hung her knickers outside his office in Dorset.
Lorna Rees, an artist, tweeted a picture with the caption: ‘I’ve left this outside his constituency office today – I’m so disgusted by his behaviour. #knickerstochope’.
She had scrawled ‘no one should be able to photo my pants unless I want them to’ across three pairs of knickers in felt-tip pen.
Miss Rees added: ‘Friday was desperately frustrating. I hope my anti- Chope constituency pant protest shows solidarity.’