The UK government has received more than 600 objections to the first British television commercial for abortion services, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said.

The advert for unplanned pregnancy and abortion advice at Marie Stopes clinics was controversially aired for the first time last week on Channel 4.

In a Commons written reply to Tory David Amess (Southend W), Mr Vaizey said at least four MPs had raised concerns about the ad.

"At 26 May, 603 pieces of electronic correspondence have been received from members of the public about television advertisements for post-conception advice services," he said.

"Five pieces of correspondence on the same subject have been received from MPs and none has been received from members of the House of Lords.

"Of the total received, 607 representations oppose the advert."

Mr Vaizey said TV adverts were "strictly controlled" by the Advertising Standards Authority and watchdog Ofcom, which were independent of government.

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