RADICAL plans to give the public power to ‘recall’ misbehaving MPs were backed by most Hampshire MPs in a Commons vote.

They threw their weight behind a proposal to prevent a committee of MPs effectively deciding whether errant MPs should face re-election.

But the rebel plan was heavily defeated in the Commons, when most Labour MPs and a narrow majority of Conservatives rejected it, on a free vote.

As a result, there will be a by-election only if an MP is found guilty of “serious wrongdoing” by the Commons standards committee and ten per cent of constituents then sign a petition.

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, criticised that idea as “pretty weak” and “a huge missed opportunity”.

He said: “I backed these amendments because I think it is right that MPs should be more accountable to their constituents.”

On the Government’s plan, he added: “It’s a damp squib which would allow recall of an MP in very narrow circumstances. Constituents should be able to hold their MP to account more than twice a decade.”

In voting for the radical option, Dr Whitehead was joined by Conservatives Steve Brine (Winchester), Caroline Dinenage (Gosport), Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North), Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) and Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight).

But fellow Tory Mark Hoban (Fareham) voted against the amendment, as did Liberal Democrat Mike Thornton (Eastleigh).

Three county MPs – Labour’s John Denham (Southampton Itchen) and Conservatives George Hollingbery (Meon Valley) and Julian Lewis (New Forest East) – did not vote.

The rebel plan would have triggered a referendum if five per cent of voters in a constituency sign a “notice of intent to recall” and 20 per cent then sign a “recall petition”, on any issue.

Under the Government’s plan, ‘wrongdoing’ is defined as a prison sentence of more than 12 month, or being banned from the Commons for more than 21 days – although the Bill is still under discussion.

Ministers will also look at a Lib Dem proposal to create an election court that could trigger referendums, alongside the internal process run by the standards committee.