LONDON: Anger over a Conservative MP's decision to block a bill to make "upskirting" a criminal offence in the UK today manifested itself in an unusual way in the House of Commons with some of its staff decorating his office with women's pants.
Sir Christopher Chope, who faced criticism, including from Prime Minister Theresa May for blocking the law last week under which someone secretly taking a photo up a woman's skirt in the country could have faced up to two years in prison.
The entrance to the 71-year-old MP's Commons office was been decorated with women's pants in an apparent protest by Commons staff against his actions, the BBC reported.
Pink, black and white knickers were found hung across the door to Sir Chope's parliamentary office on Monday morning.
Several suspenders were also placed on the floor outside his door, Sky News reported.
His constituency office was also targeted over the weekend, with a line of three pairs of pants hung across the front painted with the message: "No one should photo my pants unless I want them to.
" Defending his objections, Christopher said he had been "sticking up for the right" of Parliament to examine proposed new laws and he was glad ministers were committed to bringing forward their own legislation.
The MP told LBC Radio he backed a new law but it must be "properly debated".
Downing Street has said the government will bring forward its own legislation, to be debated before the end of July.
The MP from Christchurch has insisted he is not "a dinosaur".
But senior Tories have made their displeasure known, with Prime Minister May saying she was "disappointed" one of her own MPs had prevented the bill from progressing.
Sir Christopher told LBC that he had been "not familiar" with what upskirting was before Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse had tabled a private member's bill to make it a specific criminal offence.
But he had now spoken to Gina Martin, a victim of upskirting who has campaigned for action and she "understood fully the reasons" why he had objected.
As well as carrying a maximum two-year sentence, the new law, once it is passed, would also allow, in the most serious cases, those convicted to be placed on the sex offenders register.