A TORY former minister was branded “appalling” by a colleague after he blocked child protection proposals linked to female genital mutilation (FGM).
Sir Christopher Chope shouted “object” when the title of the Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill was read out in the Commons.
Conservative Zac Goldsmith, who sponsored the backbench bill, said on Twitter that Sir Christopher had been “begged” by FGM campaigners not to block the proposal at second reading. After the draft legislation was blocked, Goldsmith added: “As anticipated, Chope objected to the FGM Bill. Just appalling.”
The bill seeks to allow courts to make interim care orders under the Children Act 1989 in cases relating to FGM. Such an order could be made if a court was satisfied there were reasonable grounds for believing the child is suffering – or likely to suffer – significant harm.
A local authority would have shared parental responsibility for the child until a final hearing.
Last year Chope also objected to a law which would have made upskirting a criminal offence.
Labour called for Sir Christopher to lose the Tory whip after his objection to the Bill.
Shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler said: “It’s unacceptable that this dinosaur of a Tory MP consistently gets away with blocking new laws to protect the safety and rights of women.
“This makes it even more shocking that he was given a knighthood by Theresa May last year.”
SNP MP Gavin Newlands tweeted: “He is an utter embarrassment, not just to Parliament, and politics more widely, but to men everywhere.”
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