Policing minister Kit Malthouse said it could cause more harm than good as it could make it more difficult to prosecute serious crimes such as rape and domestic abuse
"The principal reason for this is that it could make it more difficult to prosecute the most serious crimes that harm women and girls, including rape and domestic abuse," he said.Sarah Everard murder: How it happenedFollowing the defeat, Liberal Democrat justice spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse accused the Conservatives of"turning a blind eye to the hatred that fuels violence against women".
"We must make clear in law that these toxic attitudes are unacceptable in our society, to help stamp out the abuse women face," she added. "No woman should be the victim of these awful crimes. And no girl should grow up in fear of them either." Shadow Home Office minister Sarah Jones gave Labour's backing to the amendment, saying it would"increase public awareness, improve victims' confidence, crucially, in reporting, and will enhance the way the police respond".Violence against women: the MPs' viewAnd Labour MP Stella Creasy said police forces had found it helpful to record data on sex or gender being a motivating factor for crimes, including for recognising patterns of behaviour.
"The problem for the minister is he says he listens to women, he knows women, he understands this area. But if he understands at all he should listen to the suffragettes who told us it was deeds, not words that matter.She suggested Mr Malthouse should come up with an alternative proposal before the bill returns to the Lords.