Sky News: A proposed law to make upskirting a specific criminal offence has been blocked by a Tory MP.
The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill was stopped in its tracks when Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope objected to it being given a second reading in parliament.
The bill, which was proposed by Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse and supported by ministers, was expected to get the nod through the Commons on Friday.
Blocking its progress only requires one MP to shout “object” when the title of a private member’s bill is read out.
Minister for women Victoria Atkins and Tory MP Will Quince were among those who cried “shame” after Sir Christopher’s intervention.
The bill will be debated next on 6 July, but will only take one dissenting voice to put another stop to its progress.
BBC: Sir Christopher’s colleagues have tweeted their disappointment at the bill being blocked.
Tory MP and chair of the Commons Justice Select Committee, Bob Neill, has written to the prime minister to ask for the bill to be allowed its second reading, criticising the “arcane parliamentary procedure” that stopped it.
George Freeman, who used to lead Theresa May’s policy unit, said the move was “an affront to parliamentary democracy”.
