Dinosaur insult left on door of MP who blocked child FGM law

THE Tory MP who single-handedly blocked legislation protecting girls from genital mutilation defended his actions yesterday – as campaigners left toy dinosaurs on the doors of his Westminster office.

Christopher Chope complained he was the victim of a ‘predictable Twitter storm’ in a letter to his constituency association, which has faced calls to deselect him.

The MP said he was as keen as anyone to protect children from female genital mutilation (FGM) but felt the change in the law merited debate and scrutiny.

Sir Christopher, 71, is notorious for objecting to bills being rubber-stamped on Friday sessions, arguing that they should be subject to detailed scrutiny.

He has blocked plans to let Parliament be used for a conference of female politicians from around the world, while his objection to a bill banning ‘upskirting’ led to knickers being strung outside his office.

The FGM legislation, which had already been passed by the House of Lords, would have allowed courts to make interim care orders under the Children Act (2004) where youngsters are believed to be at risk. It was introduced as a Private Members Bill – which meant Sir Christopher was able to block it by shouting ‘object’ when it came before the Commons on Friday for a second reading.

Ministers have now said they will bring back the Bill during Government time so that it can be passed. Sir Christopher said this was ‘an excellent result which I would warmly welcome’.

In his letter to Tory members in his Christchurch constituency, he said he had been ‘assiduous’ in considering the arguments around the proposed legal changes.

He wrote: ‘I discovered very quickly that anti-FGM campaigners were divided as to whether the proposed legislative change is good or bad. Reservations about the issue were explained in an editorial in January in the British Medical Journal and I myself have been contacted by a second-generation Somali lady who started the campaign in UK against FGM over 30 years ago.

‘She is concerned that if the power to make interim care orders against children thought to be at risk of FGM is given, it will result in much injustice and family trauma caused by the exercise of those powers in cases which are unwarranted.’

Justice minister Lucy Frazer yesterday said the Bill would be brought back in Government time ‘very swiftly’.

Answering an Urgent Question on the matter, she told the House of Commons it was disappointing that Sir Christopher had blocked the proposed law.