Was Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope right to derail the upskirting Bill?

IT IS time to review the rules on Private Member’s Bills. These are an important way to bring in laws covering the small, but important, issues that governments can’t find time for. But as we have seen with Sir Christopher Chope and the upskirting Bill, they face being endangered at their first stage simply by one MP objecting. How can this be democracy? I hope the next stage of the Bill will attract a full attendance of MPs, which would go some way to restoring the reputation of the House. J. MASON, Southsea, Hants. reLUCtANtLY, I plead devil’s advocate for Sir Christopher Chope, who scuppered the upskirting Bill. He was not objecting to the Bill or its principles. He was demonstrating against Parliament rushing a law into statute with too little thought to the consequences. And he has a point. for 50 years, various governments —

Tony Blair was the most prolific offender — have rammed Bills into law that then needed to be reformed because they were illconceived. It would not help victims of this vile practice if a law intended to protect them failed at the first hurdle in the courts. Victims of crime have enough problems when faced with lawyers calling their credibility into question. Let’s not make it worse. ALBerT roY, London e3. LET’S hope there is not an outbreak of ‘up trousering’, otherwise Sir Christopher will need to keep his bicycle clips on. phILIp LeWIS, Aldwick, W. Sussex. THE day after the first anniversary of the Grenfell fire, what was being debated in Parliament? Addressing the fact thousands are still living in blocks of flats with similar cladding while the rich and powerful argue about who will pay for it to be removed? No, they were debating a Bill to make upskirting a criminal offence, punishable by up to two years in jail. Once again MPs have shown that they are completely out of touch with the people they represent. ALISoN ShIeLdS, Windsor, Berks. THE ability of Sir Christopher Chope to use an antiquated procedure to block a Private Member’s Bill designed to protect women further illustrates the absurdity of Parliament. pAUL ChArLeS Cook, huddersfield, W. Yorks.