Who is MP Philip Davies, why is he opposing the violence against women bill and when else has he filibustered?
The Tory has strong views on equality and immigration and is particularly known for his 'filibustering' prowess
PHILIP Davies has developed something of a reputation as a controversial figure in Parliament.
The Tory has strong views on equality and immigration and is particularly known for his "filibustering" prowess.
But who exactly is the talkative Member for Shipley? Here's what The Sun knows.
Who is Philip Davies
Philip Davies was born in Doncaster, South Yorks, and attended a state boarding school in Stourbridge, West Mids., before heading to Huddersfield Polytechnic.
He graduated with a 2:1 in History and Politics in 1993 before getting a job with ASDA where he stayed until 2005.
After an unsuccessful election bid in 2001 for the seat of Colne Valley in 2005 he successfully won the seat of Shipley in West Yorkshire.
In his maiden speech to the commons Davies vowed to remain a backbencher and not seek a ministerial role so he could speak for his constituents.
He is a member Executive of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers and was elected onto the parliamentary women and equalities committee in December 2016.
Why is he opposing the violence against women bill
After Davies was controversially appointed to the women and equalities committee, a body he doesn't believe should exist, he lived up to his reputation.
One of his first acts after taking his position on the panel was to attempt to "filibuster" a bill about combating violence against women.
What is a filibuster?
A FILIBUSTER is a technique used by politicians to block legislation by "talking the bill to death".
The practice goes as far back as the Roman Senate but has been used, and some may say abused, in democracies ever since.
The term is derrived from a Spanish word "filibustero" meaning "pirate" and was first used in a political context by an American Congressman in 1853.
Around the world they have various rules attached to them, in America Senators are allowed to read out recipe's or even the phonebook to play for time but in Britain MPs have to stay on point and current rules prevent them from lasting more than four hours.
The current record for the 21st century in the House of Commons was set by Labour's Andrew Dinsmore who spoke for three hours and 17 minutes to blook a Tory private members bill in 2005.
The all time record for non stop speaking in the Commons is six hours, set by Henry Brougham in 1828.
During his marathon speech the verbose Tory branded the bill as "sexist against men" saying: “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.”
Despite his efforts the bill passed by 135 votes to two on 16 December 2016.
When has he filibustered before?
Filibustering Philip has a history of trying to talk out legislation having done at least four times in the last two years.
In March 2016 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.
In November 2015 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.
In October of the same year 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.
And in March 2015 a law proposing banning the use of wild animals in circuses was not passed because Davies and two other Tories blocked it for the 12th and final time by timing out the debate.
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Outrage after ‘anti-feminist’ MP Philip Davies tries to blocks bill on female domestic violence