Several Conservative MPs, known for their long speeches in 2018 that effectively stalled the progress of a bill intended to criminalize upskirting, have recently been honored with knighthoods for their contributions to public life.
Philip Davies, who is married to the government’s “common sense” minister Esther McVey, was recognized for his service in public and parliamentary roles following a recommendation by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
In addition, Tracey Crouch, a former sports minister who led a significant review of football governance, received a damehood for her service to the public and parliament.
Businessman Mohamed Mansour, who donated £5 million to the Conservative Party last year and served as a senior treasurer, was knighted for his business, charity, and political service work.
Businessman Mohamed Mansour (Credits: AFSIC)
In June 2018, Davies, alongside Christopher Chope, utilized a parliamentary tactic known as ‘talking out’ to delay a bill that sought to outlaw the taking of unsolicited photographs under women’s skirts.
The pair extended their speeches in the House of Commons, utilizing this procedure to prevent the bill’s passage within the allotted time. According to traditional parliamentary rules, bills scheduled for debate on Fridays can be halted if discussions exceed 2.30 pm. Following this deadline, Chope objected to the bill’s advancement, thus postponing its progress by several months.
House of Commons (Credits: Britannica)
Davies and Chope have a well-known history of using this method to obstruct various bills, ranging from proposals to exempt carers from hospital parking fees to measures to safeguard tenants from unjust eviction. Their actions, particularly regarding the upskirting bill, sparked widespread criticism, including from fellow Conservative Party members.
