Christopher Chope Blocks FGM Bill By Shouting 'Object' In The House Of Commons

Yes, that's really a thing that can happen - and Chope has done this before.

Christopher Chope has drawn criticism for blocking a bill that would have aided the prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM) of children.

On Friday, the 71-year-old MP shouted “object!” to the bill getting a second reading in the House of Commons.

In Parliament the rules mean it only requires one MP to do this to block a bill’s progress once time for debate has concluded at 2.30pm on a Friday.

Labour MP Luke Pollard tweeted what had happened, writing: “In a shock to no one Christopher Chope MP has just shouted object to the female genital mutilation Bill getting a second reading.”

In a shock to no one Christopher Chope MP has just shouted object to the female genital mutuliation Bill getting a second reading.

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) November 23, 2018

The bill had been tabled by Lord Berkeley, who is a crossbencher in the House of Lords.

Berkeley was proposing to make a one-line amendment to the Children Act 1989, that would “considerably extend protection to young girls at greatest risk of genital mutilation”, reports i news.

Stella Creasy is among the MPs and campaigners who have criticised Chope for blocking the bill:

Can we table a bill to object to Christopher chope shouting object? Time for reform of this process and for FGM bill to become govt business so can get the scrutiny ( and progress) it needs…. https://t.co/oZqoD6Xn6X

— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) November 23, 2018

So Christopher Chope just killed the bill on Fgm. What the actual fuck. This man is just beyond words.

— Nimco Ali 🔻 (@NimkoAli) November 23, 2018

Labour MP Jess Phillips retweeted a post which read: “Who voted for this man & why? I simply despair.” [sic]

While he is yet to comment on why he did this, Chope has previously expressed disdain towards private member bills - despite the fact he has sponsored many in the past.

Back in June, he derailed another private member’s bill, shouting “object!” to one that would have made upskirting a sexual offence.

His decision to do this was widely criticised, with his Conservative colleagues taking to WhatsApp to vent their frustrations with one calling him a “total irrelevance and yesterday’s guy”.

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