NEW Forest East MP Desmond Swayne was the only Hampshire MP who voted in favour of a bid to stop abortion providers advising pregnant women.

Mr Desmond Swayne put his name to proposed changes to health reform legislation that would have prevented charities such as Marie Stopes International from providing counselling for women seeking abortions.

But the amendment, put forward by Conservative MP Nadine Dorries in the House of Commons last week, was defeated by 368 votes to 118. It was a free vote, meaning the MPs were not encouraged to vote along party lines.

Under the proposals, independent providers would have offered counselling rather than organisations connected with offering abortion procedures.

But critics said religious organisations that were opposed to abortions would have then been free to provide advice.