AN MP has rejected suggestions he should vote against leaving the European Union (EU) in Parliament because Oxford voted to stay in.

Labour’s Andrew Smith, who represents Oxford East, said he promised to honour the result of June’s EU referendum and would not go back on his word.

About 70 per cent of people in the city backed remaining in the EU, in contrast with the 52 per cent nationally who voted to leave.

But Mr Smith said he believed many in his constituency who voted to remain would still want to respect the result.

Preventing Brexit could unleash a ‘national crisis, he claimed.

Speaking at a debate on Friday night, the MP said: “The first thing I owe to my constituents is my judgement.

“I am a democrat and I will honour the referendum result.”

His comments came at an event hosted by Oxford for Europe, an umbrella group that is pro-EU.

Panelists were asked if they would support the Government’s ‘Brexit Bill’, currently going through Parliament, even if no amendments were made.

Mr Smith said he would do so, provoking cries of outrage from some people in the audience at Oxford Town Hall, in St Aldate’s.

But the MP said making sure the Government allowed the continued free movement of researchers and scientists was ‘critical’ in the negotiating process with the 27 other EU countries going forward.

Mr Smith added: “I will be pushing for a liberal regime”.