Politicians last night voted to retain the 24-week upper limit for abortion with the help of three Oxfordshire MPs.

Conservative Tony Baldry (Banbury), Labour's Andrew Smith (Oxford East) and Liberal Democrat Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon) voted against a series of attempts to reduce the current limit to 12, 16, 20 and 22 weeks.

Tory MPs David Cameron (Witney) and Ed Vaizey (Wantage) backed measures to reduce the upper limit to 20 and 22 weeks.

But the House of Commons rejected every attempt to change the law. The closest vote was over the proposed cut to 22 weeks, which was defeated by 304 votes to 233.

Mr Cameron, speaking ahead of the votes yesterday, explained that he would be supporting a reduction in the limit because of the possibility that some babies could survive at a younger age than 24 weeks.

The Conservative Party leader said: "I think the reason, personally, why I want to see it come from 24, definitely to 22, is because there are now children surviving being born at 22, or 23 weeks. It is very difficult to have a system that is aborting foetuses at that age when children are surviving."

But Oxford West and Abingdon MP Dr Harris, who played a leading role in the successful battle to defend the 24-week limit, told the Commons during the debate that medical specialists believed there had been "no evidence of a significant improvement in the survival levels of pre-term infants below 24 weeks' gestation" in nearly two decades.

He said afterwards: "Parliament has made the right decision, respecting women's rights to access abortion and taking the advice of the medical world about what the appropriate time limit should be.

"It was a good debate although it was a pity to see so many made up statistics and distortions of the medical evidence from the anti-abortion side."

Last night's votes, on amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, were the first opportunity for for MPs to vote on abortion since 1990, when the upper limit was reduced from 28 weeks. MPs of all major parties were given a free vote so they could vote with their conscience rather than a party whip.

HOW OUR MPs VOTED ON MOVES TO 22-WEEK AND 20-WEEK LIMITS

  • Tony Baldry (Con: Banbury) - AGAINST
  • David Cameron (Con: Witney) - FOR
  • Evan Harris (Lib Dem: Oxford W & Abingdon) - AGAINST
  • Boris Johnson (Con: Henley) - DID NOT VOTE
  • Andrew Smith (Lab: Oxford East) - AGAINST
  • Ed Vaizey (Con: Wantage) - FOR