Sir Christopher Chope row: Notorious bill-blocking Tory MP sparks backlash by objecting to women's conference

A Tory MP who caused controversy when he blocked a bill aimed at outlawing upskirting has voted against a motion for a women’s conference to be held in Parliament.

Sir Christopher Chope, 71, objected to female MPs using parliament for a conference to mark 100 years since women were given the right to vote.

His objection was met by cries of “shame” from his fellow MPs on Monday evening.

His actions spurred Penny Mordaunt, the Women and Equalities Minister to leave her seat on the front bench and talk to the bill blocker after he objected.

On Tuesday morning he revoked his objectionm, allowing the conference to go ahead.

Mr Chope sparked outrage last month when he objected to a bill backed by campaigner Gina Martin aimed at criminalising upskiring.

He shouted down the bill that would have criminalised what Prime Minister Theresa May called "invasive" and "degrading" act when she pledged to revive an attempt to ban it.

He said he objected to the bill as he did not think there had been enough time to debate it.

His refusal to let the bill pass sparked widespread criticism and caused some MPs to hang a string of underwear on his office door and brand him a “dinosaur” and a “pervert.”

In an interview published in the Daily Echo he said: "I feel a bit sore about being scapegoated over this," he said."The suggestion that I am some kind of pervert is a complete travesty of the truth.

"It's defamatory of my character and it's very depressing some of my colleagues have been perpetuating that in the past 48 hours."