HASLEMERE MP Jeremy Hunt has explained his decision to vote in favour of the bill triggering Article 50 to start the Brexit process - despite his constituency voting to ‘remain’ last summer.

People in Waverley borough, of which Mr Hunt’s South West Surrey constituency forms part, voted 58 per cent in favour of Britain remaining a member of the European Union in the June 2016 in/out referendum.

However, despite initially calling for a second referendum on the detailed terms of Brexit, the Conservative government’s Health Secretary was among the 498 MPs to vote in favour of passing the EU (notification of withdrawal) bill to its next parliamentary stage last Wednesday – compared to just 114 voting against.

Explaining his decision, Mr Hunt told The Herald: “Last June the country decided to leave the EU.

“Having given that decision to the people in a referendum, it is not for parliament to change it. On the contrary we must get on and make a success of it, which I believe we will.

“Rather than spending energy trying to unpick a democratic decision, we must make sure Brexit becomes a catalyst for the renewal of the British economy – playing to our strengths as an outward-looking global trading nation and sorting out long-standing problems in our infrastructure and education system.”

It mirrors Mr Hunt’s comments in the immediate aftermath of the referendum, when he said “now that the people have spoken, Parliament needs to listen”.

But in a departure from Number 10’s current position, the Haslemere MP also said last June that Britain “must” remain in the single market and should strike a deal with the EU addressing concerns on immigration, to be put to the British public in a second referendum, “before we invoke Article 50”.