The Conservative MP who blocked a move to crack down on female genital mutilation (FGM) has been warned Liz Truss is “looking for him”.
Christopher Chope sparked outrage on Friday when he objected in parliament to an anti-FGM bill.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday morning, chief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said shew as “absolutely appalled” at what Chope did.
“This is an action that harms the life of girls,” she said. “When I see one of my colleague opposing a measure that could have saved girls lives, could have saved girls from that horrendous experience, I am appalled by that.”
Truss said she was going to be “speaking to” Chope this week. “I will be looking for him around the Commons.”
The cabinet minister said the government would now seek itself to push through the bacbkbench measure blocked on Friday.
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire also condemned Chope’s actions as “really shocking”.
“We are determined to take action to confront and combat FGM,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
Chope known for objecting in principle to bills getting rubber-stamped on Friday sessions, arguing they should be subject to detailed scrutiny.
He has previously come under fire for objecting to a backbench bill to make upskirting a criminal offence.
He has defended his actions and accused his critics of “virtue signalling”. The MP for Christchurch claims he does not object to the contents of the bill - but to it being passed without enough debate.