Jenny Tonge, the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, said last night that she would consider becoming a suicide bomber if forced to live like Palestinians.Dr Tonge, the party's spokesman on children's issues, made her comments in support of pro-Palestinian campaigners attending a lobby in Parliament. Referring to suicide bombers, she said: "If I was in their situation, I might just think about it myself."

The Liberal Democrats said she was expressing her own views and not that of the party.

Michael Ancram, the Tory foreign affairs spokesman, said: "These comments will sicken those across the world who have lost loved ones to suicide bombers."

Tonge later released a statement saying: "I do not condone suicide bombers or terrorism. But I do understand, having been to Palestine myself and having seen the daily barrage of humiliation and aggravation faced by Palestinians, why suicide bombers opt for this most desperate of actions."