Conservative MP Christoper Chope has achieved something almost no-one thought was possible. In his most petty and ridiculous act to date, Chope has united all sides of the political divide in the country. United them, that is, in agreeing he’s an utter bellend.
On 8 February, Chope blocked a bill that would have allowed courts to issue protection orders if they believe a child is at risk from female genital mutilation. And his objection to what surely must be one of the least objectionable bills to ever pass through the House of Commons has not gone down well.
“No excuse”
This is not the first time the Christchurch MP has come under serious scrutiny. In June 2018, he faced a backlash after he blocked a bill to outlaw ‘upskirting’ photos. The MP has also consistently voted against equal rights and called for a reinstatement of the death penalty.
Chope claims to object to bills in order to allow for greater scrutiny and proper debate. But social media users were quick to scrutinise his record:
Tory Christopher Chope doesn’t just derail upskirting & FGM bills. He voted –
•12 X for the Bedroom Tax
•44 X to cut benefits
•9 X against bankers bonus tax
•19 X to reduce Corporation taxHe used £10,000 expenses to fix his roof, a £2,600 bathroom & £881 to repair a sofa
— Rachael Swindon #WeAreCollective (@Rachael_Swindon) February 8, 2019
Comedian David Schneider also stuck the boot in:
https://twitter.com/davidschneider/status/1093948544128565249
Many simple questioned how he continues to get re-elected:
I simply despair. Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope – the politician widely condemned for objecting to a bill to outlaw upskirting – has just blocked legislation designed to protect children from female genital mutilation. Who voted for this man?? https://t.co/voETcwIMXL
— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) February 8, 2019
Chope bringing the country together
In an almost unprecedented act of unity, politicians from all sides came together to condemn Chope’s latest act. Labour MP David Lammy condemned him as “thoughtless” and “regressive”:
First he blocks making upskirting a criminal offence, now he objects to laws to protect children from genital mutilation. Why get into politics to do this? Christopher Chope embodies a brand of thoughtless, regressive conservatism which can ruin lives.https://t.co/seUuBo8hVL
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) February 8, 2019
Chope’s Conservative colleague Zac Goldsmith questioned the MP’s ‘principles’ in a series of tweets:
And if he is acting on principle, as he wants people to believe, why does he often allow Bills put forward by his friends to pass through unchallenged?
5/5— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) February 8, 2019
Fellow Conservative MPs also attacked Chope. Simon Hoare wrote that it was time the MP “buggered off”. Nick Bowles tweeted that “never has an MP deserved a knighthood less”:
https://twitter.com/NickBoles/status/1094199314342137856
Lib Dem MP Tom Brake also got in on the act:
Christopher Chope, the MP who objected to the upskirting bill has reached a new low. Today he blocked new, stricter laws to protect children from FGM. Absolutely appalling behaviour. He is a disgrace to parliament, his constituency and women & children everywhere.
— Tom Brake (@thomasbrake) February 8, 2019
Flawed political system
As well as complaints about the individual, people challenged the political system that allowed this to happen. In one Malcolm Tucker-esque rant, a Twitter user put it succinctly:
https://twitter.com/SpillerOfTea/status/1093888134906036230
It’s clear that our political system is fatally flawed if one man is able to derail a bill as important as this. These out-of-date procedures in the House of Commons need reviewing – the sooner the better.
Featured image via Wikimedia/Chris McAndrew
