May 'disappointed' after colleague blocks upskirting law

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Europe

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday she was disappointed a lawmaker from her Conservative party had blocked a bill to make "upskirting" a criminal offense.

Christopher Chope, 71, a veteran politician who was knighted this year, blocked the bill proposed by opposition Liberal Democrat parliamentarian Wera Hobhouse, without explaining his reasoning.

The bill, which was widely supported in the House of Commons, would have seen anyone who secretly takes photographs of women’s upskirts jailed for up to two years and placed on the sex offender register.

Chope’s move was criticized by politicians from across the spectrum.

May took to Twitter, saying: "Up-skirting is an invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed."

"I am disappointed the Bill didn't make progress in the Commons today, and I want to see these measures pass through Parliament - with government support - soon."

Hobhouse has asked for the bill to be debated on July 6.

Dawn Butler, the main opposition Labour party spokeswoman for women and equalities, said: "What possible reason could there be to block a law that supports women and girls?"

Conservative lawmaker Nick Boles tweeted: "In every party, there are one or two MPs whose knuckles drag along the ground. Today, unfortunately, a sensible reform to protect women was blocked by one of ours."

Some instances of "up-skirting" are currently prosecuted under existing public decency and voyeurism laws, but campaigners say not all instances were covered by existing criminal law.

(Cover: British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in central London, June 13, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters