North East Hampshire MP James Arbuthnot has revealed he is an atheist for the first time in his 28-year career - and claimed he has previously felt pressure to keep quiet about not being religious.

The Conservative MP, speaking in a debate on a bill to allow prayers in council meetings, likened the need to hide his atheism to the "pressure there has been about keeping quiet about being gay."

Mr Arbuthnot said he felt he could only now say that he is an atheist because he is not seeking re-election.

He said he suspected the announcement that he is "not in the least bit religious" was likely to "disappoint" some of his constituents and family members.

During the Commons debate Mr Arbuthnot told fellow MPs he was brought up in a Christian household, having been christened and confirmed.

He said: "But since then I have lost those beliefs and faith that I once had and I am perfectly comfortable with that. But this is the first time I have ever actually acknowledged that in public,"

"And it may be true that the pressure on a Conservative politician, particularly of keeping quiet about not being religious, is very similar to the pressure that there has been about keeping quiet about being gay."

"For the avoidance of doubt I am not gay either but I just wanted to say that it is telling that it has taken me 28 years in this House, and frankly in the knowledge that I won't be standing in the next election, to make this point."