[size=12pt]Tory MP Christopher Chope roundly condemned for Hillsborough debate move as Prime Minister David Cameron steps in[/size]
by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Daily Post
Oct 13 2011
A TORY MP was forced to make a hasty climbdown after an apparent move that could have delayed the Hillsborough debate.
Christopher Chope was roundly condemned around Parliament yesterday for his objection that threatened the schedule of the long-awaited tragedy discussion.
But Prime Minister David Cameron gave an assurance in his weekly Question Time to effectively silence the Dorset politician.
And, in the Commons last night, next Monday’s debate was confirmed.
Chope, a 64-year-old barrister, provoked the ire of many when he questioned why a debate on MPs’ own pensions, timetabled before the disaster debate on Monday, was lasting for only two hours.
If his objection was upheld, it would have meant the much-anticipated Hillsborough item could have been cut drastically short.
Now, Chope – the son of a judge – has been comprehensively shouted down by heavyweights PM David Cameron and Leader of the Commons Sir George Young. Chope has spoken to the Daily Post and attempted to defend his ill-advised objection on Monday night.
He said: “They wanted to pass a timetabling motion, that would see the pension debate go on for two hours, on the nod, without proper Parliamentary procedure.
“The objection is to the timetable being done without any discussion about it. The Government seems to want to limit the pension debate.”
Asked if he was aware his objection could crucially impinge on the Hillsborough debate, with many families who lost loved ones travelling down to London to attend, Chope responded: “That is nonsense. The Hillsborough debate is not in jeopardy. It was not my intention to lead people to think otherwise.”
Yesterday, Mr Cameron publicly announced: “We will not allow anything to eat into this very important debate.”
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, who has long campaigned for the Hillsborough families, added: “Around 140,000 people signed the petition and they will regard what’s just happened with great dismay.”
He added: “Surely it cannot be right for one member to stand up because he wants to talk about his own pension to deny the opportunity for those people to debate the important issues relating to the Hillsborough disaster and the huge injustice that was done to the families and the people of Liverpool.”
Chope appeared to find little or no allies in his bid to potentially lengthen the pension debate at the expense of Hillsborough.
Cries of “shame” rang around the Commons when the matter was brought up yesterday.
Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, showed his disgust towards Chope, adding it was “something which I think should and must haunt him for the rest of his days”.
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern expressed her frustration towards Chope, saying: “I am angry that one rogue MP has tried to trample over the feelings of families who have waited so long to get answers to questions they have had for over 22 years. I hope the Leader of the House sees sense and leaves the day’s business as it was. The importance of this issue to the people of Merseyside cannot be underestimated”.
Sheila Coleman, spokeswoman for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said: “The families didn’t need this added insecurity. It seems to be hurdle after hurdle at the moment. I was with Steve Kelly yesterday, who lost his brother in Sheffield, and when the news came out about the possible delay, he said, ‘We’ve been delayed 22 years, what’s a bit longer?’ Chope has just generated anger which is just not necessary.”
CHRISTOPHER CHOPE, right, born in Putney, is member of Parliament for Christchurch, Dorset.
With the nickname “Chopper”, he attended Queen’s College at the University of St Andrew’s and was awarded an OBE in 1982.
The Londoner was involved in the expenses scandal, after claiming £136,992 in 2007/08.
This included claiming £881 to repair a sofa.
[size=12pt]Controversially, he was responsible for the blocking of a Bill to protect the world's poorest countries from debt sharks’ use of “vulture funds”, despite his party's support for the Bill.[/size]
The politician was chairman of the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward group.
Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/10/13/tory-mp-christopher-chope-roundly-condemned-for-hillsborough-debate-move-as-prime-minister-david-cameron-steps-in-92534-29587363/3/#ixzz1aerX2B2K
Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/10/13/tory-mp-christopher-chope-roundly-condemned-for-hillsborough-debate-move-as-prime-minister-david-cameron-steps-in-92534-29587363/#ixzz1aeqqjbxJ
by Luke Traynor, Liverpool Daily Post
Oct 13 2011
A TORY MP was forced to make a hasty climbdown after an apparent move that could have delayed the Hillsborough debate.
Christopher Chope was roundly condemned around Parliament yesterday for his objection that threatened the schedule of the long-awaited tragedy discussion.
But Prime Minister David Cameron gave an assurance in his weekly Question Time to effectively silence the Dorset politician.
And, in the Commons last night, next Monday’s debate was confirmed.
Chope, a 64-year-old barrister, provoked the ire of many when he questioned why a debate on MPs’ own pensions, timetabled before the disaster debate on Monday, was lasting for only two hours.
If his objection was upheld, it would have meant the much-anticipated Hillsborough item could have been cut drastically short.
Now, Chope – the son of a judge – has been comprehensively shouted down by heavyweights PM David Cameron and Leader of the Commons Sir George Young. Chope has spoken to the Daily Post and attempted to defend his ill-advised objection on Monday night.
He said: “They wanted to pass a timetabling motion, that would see the pension debate go on for two hours, on the nod, without proper Parliamentary procedure.
“The objection is to the timetable being done without any discussion about it. The Government seems to want to limit the pension debate.”
Asked if he was aware his objection could crucially impinge on the Hillsborough debate, with many families who lost loved ones travelling down to London to attend, Chope responded: “That is nonsense. The Hillsborough debate is not in jeopardy. It was not my intention to lead people to think otherwise.”
Yesterday, Mr Cameron publicly announced: “We will not allow anything to eat into this very important debate.”
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, who has long campaigned for the Hillsborough families, added: “Around 140,000 people signed the petition and they will regard what’s just happened with great dismay.”
He added: “Surely it cannot be right for one member to stand up because he wants to talk about his own pension to deny the opportunity for those people to debate the important issues relating to the Hillsborough disaster and the huge injustice that was done to the families and the people of Liverpool.”
Chope appeared to find little or no allies in his bid to potentially lengthen the pension debate at the expense of Hillsborough.
Cries of “shame” rang around the Commons when the matter was brought up yesterday.
Jamie Reed, Labour MP for Copeland, showed his disgust towards Chope, adding it was “something which I think should and must haunt him for the rest of his days”.
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern expressed her frustration towards Chope, saying: “I am angry that one rogue MP has tried to trample over the feelings of families who have waited so long to get answers to questions they have had for over 22 years. I hope the Leader of the House sees sense and leaves the day’s business as it was. The importance of this issue to the people of Merseyside cannot be underestimated”.
Sheila Coleman, spokeswoman for the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, said: “The families didn’t need this added insecurity. It seems to be hurdle after hurdle at the moment. I was with Steve Kelly yesterday, who lost his brother in Sheffield, and when the news came out about the possible delay, he said, ‘We’ve been delayed 22 years, what’s a bit longer?’ Chope has just generated anger which is just not necessary.”
CHRISTOPHER CHOPE, right, born in Putney, is member of Parliament for Christchurch, Dorset.
With the nickname “Chopper”, he attended Queen’s College at the University of St Andrew’s and was awarded an OBE in 1982.
The Londoner was involved in the expenses scandal, after claiming £136,992 in 2007/08.
This included claiming £881 to repair a sofa.
[size=12pt]Controversially, he was responsible for the blocking of a Bill to protect the world's poorest countries from debt sharks’ use of “vulture funds”, despite his party's support for the Bill.[/size]
The politician was chairman of the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward group.
Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/10/13/tory-mp-christopher-chope-roundly-condemned-for-hillsborough-debate-move-as-prime-minister-david-cameron-steps-in-92534-29587363/3/#ixzz1aerX2B2K
Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/10/13/tory-mp-christopher-chope-roundly-condemned-for-hillsborough-debate-move-as-prime-minister-david-cameron-steps-in-92534-29587363/#ixzz1aeqqjbxJ
