Protecting the unborn is important in every situation, leading Conservative backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg has said.
Rees-Mogg, who has been touted as a future Tory leader, also expressed support for traditional marriage.
And he said those with orthodox views on social issues are facing intolerance in society.
Conception
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Rees-Mogg said life is precious and “begins at the point of conception”.
Pressed on whether he was opposed to abortion “in all circumstances”, the MP said: “Yes I am”.
But he did not expect the current law – which allows abortion up to 24 weeks and up to birth if a disability is diagnosed – to change.
Marriage
Questioned about same-sex marriage and homosexual sex, Rees-Mogg repeatedly stated that he held to Roman Catholic teaching – which says the marriage union is between one man and one woman.
Rees-Mogg also said it was hypocritical to preach tolerance but not uphold the right of people to hold traditional views.
The MP for North East Somerset twice voted against the same-sex marriage Bill during its parliamentary passage.
‘Matter of conscience’
Responding to the comments, one of Britain’s largest abortion providers, BPAS, said his remarks were “extreme”, before claiming: “We are a pro-choice country”.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “It’s a long-standing principle that abortion is for Parliament and for individual MPs and is a matter of conscience for them.
“The Prime Minister doesn’t happen to agree, but it is a matter of conscience.”