Tory MP Christopher Chope insists he is not a 'pervert' or a 'dinosaur' and says he DOES support criminalising upskirting and only blocked a new law because he wanted more debate on it

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The Tory MP at the centre of the upskirting tow has today insisted that he does think it should be criminalised - despite blocking a new law on it.

Sir Christopher Chope, 71,  said he feels 'scapegoated' by the fury that has been directed at him after he objected to a Bill criminalising taking photos up skirts.

He insisted that he is not a 'pervert' or a 'dinosaur' but objected to the Bill progressing because he feels it is important for MPs to debate issues fully.

He broke his silence on the issue after days of fierce criticism as campaigners and MPs - including the Prime Minister Theresa May - slammed him for blocking the Bill.

In an interview with his local newspaper, he said he agrees that upskirting is 'vulgar, humiliating and unacceptable'.

He told the Bournemouth Echo: 'I feel a bit sore about being scapegoated over this. The suggestion that I am some kind of pervert is a complete travesty of the truth. 

'It's defamatory of my character and it's very depressing some of my colleagues have been perpetuating that in the past 48 hours.'

Sir Christopher Chope (pictured in the Commons yesterday) shouted 'object' when the draft law was raised in the Commons yesterday, slamming the brakes on the attempt

The MP for Christchurch in Dorset, added: 'I am not a dinosaur. I am very much alive and kicking. 

'There are too few colleagues who are prepared to stand up for the rights of Parliament against the executive and that's when the freedoms we cherish will be eroded.'

And he confirmed that he is determined to fight the next General Election and stay on as MP.

Theresa May unable to say why she gave Sir Christopher Chope a knighthood

The PM was challenged about why she gave the Tory MP the honour on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show today.

Theresa May was unable to say why she handed Sir Christopher Chope a knighthood - despite his opposition to a string of Bills with popular support.

The PM was  challenged about why she gave the Tory MP the honour on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show today.

But asked three times why he was bestowed with the title she was unable to say why.

She said:  'Christopher Chope has been a long-standing Member of Parliament.

'What is important is how we respond to the legislation that was going to be there.

'Because the concern is not the issue of an individual, the concern is about are we going to ensure that something that is offensive to people, that is invasive of people's privacy, are we going to ensure that action is taken about that? 

'Yes we are.'

Sir Christopher sparked a storm of criticism for objecting to a Bill which makes taking photographs up someone's skirt a specific criminal offence. 

Tory MPs joined campaigners in queing up to condemn him.

And  the Government has now vowed to take up the Bill and bring in the offence itself.

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His comments come after he sparked uproar by being the only MP in the Commons last Friday to shout 'object' to the Bill - single-handedly stopping it in its tracks.

The news spread like wildfire across social media as angry Britons vented their fury at the little-known MP.

Many Tory MPs slammed him on Twitter - with even the PM joining in the condemnation and announcing the Government will bring forward the Bill.

And behind the scenes Conservative politicians swapped WhatsApp messages voiding how fed up they were with Sir Christopher blocking many worthy Bills.

He has previously  made an eleventh hour objection to a debate on the Hillsborough disaster - which killed 96 people.

And in 2013 he also blocked a posthumous pardon for Alan Turing, who cracked the 'Enigma Code' and helped Britain win the Second World War, for his 1952 conviction for being gay.

But speaking to the newspaper, Sir Christopher said he objects to private members bills routinely ion protest at the Government's failure to provide enough time for MPs to debate the topics.

He insisted that he was sticking up for democracy - unlike some of his parliamentary colleagues.

He said he does not agree with legislation being brought in with no debate at Second Reading.

Sir Christopher said: 'The government has been hijacking time that is rightfully that of backbenchers.

'This is about who controls the House of Commons on Fridays and that's where I am coming from. 

'I actually support the Bills that were before the house. Four of the 26 Bills that fell at the same time were my own.

'But this is something I have fought for in most of my time as an MP and it goes to the very heart of the power balance between the government and Parliament. 

'The government is abusing parliamentary time for its own ends and in a democracy this is not acceptable. The government cannot just bring in what it wants on the nod. We don't quite live in the Putin era yet.'

Sir Christopher criticised some of his Conservative colleagues who 'did not want to put their head above the parapet in sticking up for democracy. That is frightening.'

He said that he has spoken to  Gina Miller - who has led the campaign for change -  who understood his reasons.

He added: 'My recommendation to the government is that to ensure the fastest, fairest and surest passage to the statute book for a Bill to outlaw upskirting, which I would wholeheartedly support, it introduces its own legislation without delay.' 

And Lorna Rees, who lives in Sir Christopher's constituency of Christchurch in Dorset, vented her anger at him by draping home-made knicker bunting outside his door.

Twitter users backed Lorna Rees' protest outside Sir Christopher Chope's constituency office in Christchurch in Dorset

Another Twitter user said the creative protest - which comes days after the Tory MP intervened to block the Bill - was 'brilliant'

And he hit out at his fellow Tory MPs for publicly cirticising him.

He said: 'None of them phoned me up to ask me to explain my actions. Why would they want to humiliate one of their own colleagues? Hopefully when this does get into the statute book, they will accept I was right but maybe that's asking for the moon.'

His comments came after a furious woman has hung up a string of knickers outside his constituency offices. 

Lorna Rees, who lives in Sir Christopher's constituency of Christchurch in Dorset, vented her anger at him by draping home-made knicker bunting outside his door.

Across the pants were the words: 'No one should photo my pants unless I want them to'.

Tweeting an image of the protest, Ms Rees said: 'I've left this outside his constituency office today - I'm so disgusted by his behaviour. #knickerstochope bunting 'no one should be able to photo my pants unless I want them to'.'

In another post, she added: 'Am so cross. And thought this was perhaps the best way to address it....'

Her protest won plaudits from other Twitter users who said it was an 'excellent' way to show the MP how fed up his constituents are.

John Grindrod wrote: 'Brilliant work from my mate (and Christchurch resident) Lorna.'  

Another Twitter user called Martin wrote 'this is absolutely brilliant' while George Dukesh hailed the protest as 'excellent'.   

Justice Minister Lucy Frazer yesterday insisted the law would be changed as Tory MPs reacted with horror to their colleague's obstruction.

Tory MP Bob Neill wrote to the Prime Minister demanding the Government to make time to pass the new law. 

Senior Tory Tom Tughendhat said it was 'shaming' for the party while Business Minister Margot James insisted the Government was determined to defy Sir Christopher and change the law. 

Former minister Nick Boles attacked Sir Christopher as an MP 'whose knuckles drag along the ground'. 

The draft law came forward after Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse was backed by the Ministry of Justice to try and deliver it from the backbenches.