HAMPSHIRE Conservative MPs were defeated in their bid to toughen the law that bans abortion on the grounds of gender.

Five county MPs backed a controversial amendment to update 1967 legislation that was drafted before it was possible to identify the sex of a foetus.

Supporters of the move said the law needed to “clarify beyond doubt in statute that sex selective abortion is illegal in UK law”.

It followed a newspaper investigation which filmed doctors agreeing to carry out terminations because the unborn babies were girls, although no charges were brought.

Conservatives Mark Hoban (Fareham), Julian Lewis (New Forest East), Desmond Swayne (New Forest West), Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) and Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight) all backed the amendment.

But it was opposed by fellow Tories Steve Brine (Winchester) and Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North), as well as Labour's Alan Whitehead (Southampton Test).

Some opponents warned the change would make it impossible for parents who wanted to abort a foetus with a congenital disorder related to their gender.

There were also concerns that the amendment would criminalise pregnant women, as well as the doctors authorising the abortion.

And it could prevent women confiding in their doctor that they felt under pressure to abort their child because of its gender, MPs were told.

The proposal, put forward by Tory backbencher Fiona Bruce, was defeated by 292 votes to 201. MPs did back a review of the extent of sex selective abortion.

David Cameron and the department of health said sex selective abortion was “already illegal”, with guidance issued only last year.

Conservative George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) voted in both lobbies - an active abstention - while Labour's John Denham (Southampton Itchen) and Liberal Democrat Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) did not vote.