A Christchurch MP is at the centre of a storm surrounding a third world anti-poverty bill that was controversially blocked in the House of Commons.

Chris Chope was named in one national newspaper as the Tory MP who shouted “object” when the legislation was read out in Parliament on Friday.

There was uproar in Westminster as the objection effectively killed the bill’s chances of making on to the statute books before the general election.

Its intention was to help protect poor nations from debt sharks and it appeared to have widespread support before Friday’s dramatic intervention.

Though Mr Chope was named in one paper, it was unclear in the Commons which MP had objected to the bill. Some reports have claimed David Cameron was under pressure to reveal exactly who the MP who objected was.

Three Tory MPs were in the chamber when the bill was read out on Friday.

The Independent claimed Mr Chope believed the proposals had not been properly debated in the Commons.

The Christchurch MP was not available when the Daily Echo tried to contact him over the weekend.

The obstruction to the bill has outraged anti-poverty charities.

Oxfam policy advisor Max Lawson told the Independent the bill had been “absolutely vital legislation that needed to be passed”.

Jubilee Debt Campaign director Nick Dearden said significant compromises had been made to get the bill to this point and the Tories had indicated their support for it.

The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill was designed to stop ‘vulture fund’ operators buying up the debt of third world nations, then suing for immediate repayment.

Mr Chope did receive some praise in the weekend’s national newspapers, however.

He had demanded to know why there had been no debate over government plans to write off £23bn of excess expenditure for 2008-09 – the largest amount ever to be written off.