Danny Kruger has said he "very much regrets" the "distress and anger" his comments on abortion has caused. 

Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Mr Kruger said he doesn’t agree “that women have an absolute right to bodily autonomy” on abortion.

But now Mr Kruger has tried to set out his views "a little more fully". 

He said his position on abortion "reflects the status quo", and that he supports the 1967 Abortion Act, and that he does not wish to dictate what a woman should do with her own body, "as has been claimed". 

Mr Kruger said: "What I said in the Commons was that ‘in the case of abortion’ a woman’s ‘absolute right to bodily autonomy… is qualified by the fact that another body is involved.’

"This is the basis of the law as it stands, which recognises that somewhere along the journey towards birth the foetus or baby acquires rights of its own. 

"The fact is that all autonomy - all liberty - is qualified. We are not absolutely free because we are not absolutely alone. ‘Absolute autonomy’ in the matter of abortion would mean no restrictions at all on the termination of healthy, viable babies up to nine months’ gestation. It is this radical position that I oppose. Studies of public opinion also show a clear majority in support of restrictions, including term limits."

He added: "My remarks in the Commons have triggered an avalanche of abuse and misrepresentation online that is sadly redolent of the debate that has polarised the US for decades.

"MPs must take care to avoid being misunderstood on such a controversial and emotive issue. But I hope we can still allow the free expression of opinions, not least in Parliament, and a fair hearing for one another."