WINCHESTER MP Steve Brine has come under fire from his own supporters after saying he will back legislation for Brexit.

Mr Brine will defy constituents who say he should follow the will of the people of the Winchester district who voted by 60:40 to remain in the European Union at the referendum last Thursday.

It was one of only three districts in Hampshire to vote to remain along with East Hampshire and Hart. 

One Conservative voter, Sarah Viersen-Corser, said: "My shock at the result of the Referendum turned to anger when I saw the message from Steve Brine to members of the local Conservative Party saying that he will vote Brexit in Parliament.

"The Referendum is not legally binding, it is advisory. This means that MPs still have their own minds and the choice to remain true to their beliefs and convictions. The issue of whether or not to remain a member of the EU runs far deeper than party-political divides, and the arrangement of the referendum campaign reflected that point.

"I am angry that our MP who was pro-Europe before June 24 suddenly became anti-Europe on June 25 for party political reasons. I don't want our constituency to become subject to the Brexit Conservative Party, and even though I have written to Mr Brine expressing my bitter disappointment in his sudden decision, he has not answered my letter."

Mr Brine said: "To be clear, I am a democrat. Parliament voted by a huge margin to hold this referendum and, in doing so, gave the people the power to decide.

"I will respect the will of the British people - even if it was different to my personal preference - and I don't believe you keep asking the question until you get the answer you want. We are a peaceful, democratic nation not an autocracy that ignores the electorate."

More than 50,000 Hampshire people have signed an online petition calling for a second referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

As well as throwing national politics into turmoil with the resignation of the Prime Minister David Cameron and the ructions in the Labour Party, it has derailed clarity over possible reorganisation of local government in Hampshire.

The Lib Dems said they were seeing a membership boost in the last week. Cllr Martin Tod said 36 people had joined locally and 8,00 nationally. "People are joining us because of the strong clear line we took on the Euro referendum and our hard work locally and nationally campaigning for the country to remain a member of the EU. The chaos since the vote shows that we were right to campaign as we did."

Lib Dem leader Lucille Thompson said:"We were surprised at the result. We felt we had won the day but we wok eup to find we hadn't. It will have a devestating effect on jobs and the economy."