May WILL push through bill to outlaw upskirting
THe upskirting ban is to be adopted as a Government bill amid continuing anger over the Tory MP who blocked it from becoming law, it emerged last night.
The bid to drive through the ban came as knickers were strung up in protest outside the offices of Sir Christopher Chope, who scuppered the original bill last week.
At the weekend, an activist hung knickers outside Sir Christopher’s constituency office, having written on them in felt-tip pen: ‘No one should be able to photo my pants unless I want them to.’
And yesterday Sir Christopher’s office in Parliament was subjected to similar treatment, with four pairs of knickers, bound together with a pink ribbon, strung up outside.
Sir Christopher admitted he did not know what upskirting was when he blocked the bill.
The MP for Christchurch in Dorset faced a barrage of criticism and was heckled with cries of ‘shame’ after he objected to the second reading of a private members’ bill. The Voyeurism ( Offences) bill would have made upskirting, which involves surreptitiously taking photos of underwear, a specific criminal offence.
Yesterday, Theresa May told Cabinet that upskirting was ‘an invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed’, her spokesman said.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom told Cabinet the legislation will be adopted as a Government bill to improve its chances of becoming law.
She said there would be a second reading of the bill before the summer break next month.
Mrs May’s spokesman added that there had been no discussion of Sir Christopher during Cabinet, and no calls for reform of private members’ bills.