Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope has blocked a move to allow women MPs from across the world to hold a debate in the House of Commons.
The Tory backbencher, who recently derailed an attempt to crack down on upskirting, opposed the plan late on Monday evening.
Sir Christopher shouted “object” when MPs were asked to approve the following motion last night.
The Motion Sir Christopher Objected To
“That this House welcomes the events organised to celebrate women’s suffrage and to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918; recognises that the Women MPs of the World Conference provides a unique opportunity to gather parliamentarians from across the world to engage in discussions about equal representation and bring about social change; and accordingly resolves that delegates participating in the Women MPs of the World Conference should be allowed to make use of the Chamber of this House on a day in November other than a day on which this House is sitting or a day on which the UK Youth Parliament is making use of the Chamber.”
This year marks 100 years since some women over the age of 30 were first given the right to vote in the UK.
Chope objected to the word “delegates” in the motion as he wanted it to be restricted to “parliamentarians”.
Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Dawn Butler MP said: “Just weeks after he blocked upskirting from becoming a criminal offence, Christopher Chope’s decision to object to women parliamentarians from around the world coming to Parliament proves once again that the Conservatives are no friend of equality.
“In the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, the Women MPs of the World Conference is an opportunity to celebrate women’s suffrage and renew our commitment to fighting for equality and social justice.
“If Theresa May is the feminist that she claims to be then she needs to call out this sexist behaviour in her own party.”
And Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said on Twitter: “Christopher (I hate women) Chope has just objected to Women MPs from around world visiting commons and sitting in the chamber on a day we are not here to celebrate 100 yrs of suffrage.
“Once with up-skirting is foolish but twice might lead to accusations of him being a misogynist!”