Outrage after ‘anti-feminist’ MP Philip Davies tries to blocks bill on female domestic violence
The Conservative MP has a history of talking for hours until the time runs out, but MPs voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill anyway
MPS and campaigners have slammed Tory MP Philip Davies for trying to talk out a bill on combating violence against women.
As politicians discussed the bill to call on the Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention, MPs said listening to the Member for Shipley talk for 78 minutes was like "rubbing sandpaper in my eyes".
Conservative MP Mr Davies said he would not support the bill as it did not support tackling violence against men too and it was "sexist against men".
But it passed by 135 - 2 in the Commons, with MPs from all sides choosing to support it. MPs cheered as the bill now passes into its second reading.
Just two MPs chose to vote against it - Conservatives Philip Hollobone and Christopher Chope.
Actress and UN ambassador Emma Watson joined with Jeremy Corbyn and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron to call on Theresa May to ratify the intentional treaty against domestic violence.
It has been four years and six months since the Government said they would, and Shadow Equalities Minister Sarah Champion said it was "dragging its feet".
The anti-feminist MP Mr Davies said: "I oppose this bill because it introduces unnecessarily meddling from super national bodies that we can quite do without and we can do on our own."
"I of course oppose violence against women, but I also oppose violence against men and boys and having a strategy for one and not the other is just not acceptable to me."
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He talked for 78 minutes to try and filibuster the bill by making it run out of time.
Labour's Thangam Debbonaire, who has worked with domestic violence victims in the past, said it was "78 minutes that I am never going to get back."
She hit back at some of his claims: "The majority of victims... the overwhelming victims of sexual assault, rape, chronic ongoing domestic abuse, severe domestic abuse are female," she said.
"When you remain neutral in a situation of profound inequality, you are siding with the powerful against the powerless."
Philip Davies likes to filibuster
March 2016: NHS Reinstatement Bill
The Tory MP and others blocked plans for a debate and vote on whether to reverse private sector involvement in the NHS. Mr Davies used up parliamentary time by talking for four and a half hours on a short bill to deport foreign criminals - so there wasn't time to debate it.
March 2015: Wild animals in the circus
A law proposing banning the use of wild animals in circuses will not be passed because of Tories talking it out. It was blocked for the 12th and final time by a trio of MPs - including Mr Davies.
November 2015: First aid training in schools
Mr Davies gave a 50 minute speech arguing that emergency first aid education in secondary schools should not be compulsory. Others said that they had been taught it in schools and forgotten what they learned, and the curriculum was being overloaded.
October 2015: Carers getting free hospital parking
The MP blocked a law progressing that would have given carers free parking at hospitals. He talked for 90 minutes meaning MPs ran out of time to vote on whether to pass it.
Home Office minister Brandon Lewis said the Government was taking violence against women and girls seriously, and it still intended to ratify the convention.
But MPs were quick to slam Mr Davies for trying to talk it out.
"There are times in this chamber I feel like sticking my fingers in my ears and humming la la... now is one of those times," MP Carolyn Harris said.
"Had to leave the chamber as I just can't stand to sit and watch toxic Tory Philip Davies try to talk out the Istanbul Convention Bill", wrote SNP MP Hannah Bardell.
Eilidh Whiteford brought the issue to the Commons as a Private Members Bill, and it has received cross-party support.
"I believe very passionately that we can end violence against women," she said earlier.
And Jess Phillips, a Birmingham MP, said she was willing to work with the Government to do whatever it took to get more help for women in need.
"If we ratify this convention, we send them a message, and that is the greatest gift we can give them," Mrs Phillips said.
Mr Davies was this week elected to the Women and Equalities Committee, despite being a long-standing critic of women's rights.