An MP said he felt “compelled” to vote against the motion which led to his resignation from the Government.

Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, last night resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Nick Boles MP, Minister for Skills, over a motion put forward by Labour MP Grahame Morris on recognising Palestine.

Convention dictates that Government ministers and PPSs abstain on backbench business votes.

Mr Freer said: “I felt compelled to vote against the motion. I immediately informed the Chief Whip of my intention to resign as PPS.

“I could have simply abstained and obeyed the protocol, but in doing so I would be contradicting my long-standing campaign towards a negotiated two-state solution. Furthermore, I would be doing a disservice to the huge number of constituents who raised concerns over the vote.

“I support a Palestinian state alongside Israel - the two-state solution. Yesterday’s vote will only serve the aims of Hamas who would believe they can achieve their ambitions without negotiation. This is not in the interests of the Israeli and Palestinian people.”