A TORY MP who watched pornography in the House of Commons has been criticised by Southampton politicians.

Neil Parish has owned up to watching adult material in Parliament twice.

The 65-year-old claimed he accidentally viewed footage when looking at tractors online.

A second incident, he said was a ‘moment of madness’.

Mr Parish, a farmer, has since announced he will step down as MP for Tiverton and Honiton.

However, Royston Smith, who represents Southampton Itchen has said the situation is inexplicable.

He said: “I know there are those who want to make this about misogyny and sexism but there is something more fundamental. Why on earth would someone do that? Not because he’s sexist but because he’s misguided. Neil is a decent chap. I like him but his Parliamentary career probably couldn’t recover and standing down is the right thing to do under the circumstances.”

Mr Parish, previously told the BBC that he recognised the “furore” and “damage” he was causing his family and his constituency in Devon before deciding “it just wasn’t worth carrying on”.

“The situation was, funnily enough it was tractors I was looking at, so I did get into another website with sort of a very similar name and I watched it for a bit, which I shouldn’t have done,” Mr Parish said.

The Labour MP for Southampton Test, Alan Whitehead previously said the scandal as “another example of Tory sleaze”.

He stressed it is “yet more evidence that the Government is rotting from the head down”.

He also criticised the Government for taking “far too long to suspend Mr Parish” adding that they should have taken action as soon as they were aware of his actions.

During an interview with ITV News the Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, simply stated: “Nobody should be watching pornography at work, so I’m pleased that that action has been taken and I hope that the two women who complained are being supported.”