Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen has accused fellow politicians of supporting "the grooming and mutilation of children" after losing a vote against gender transitioning in schools.

The Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire had proposed banning children from socially transitioning between sexes at school.

The motion also sought to prohibit the discussion of social transitioning in schools, and would require them to inform parents if their child indicated that they wished to socially transition or had begun to do so.

Social transitioning can include swapping one's name to an alternative of the desired sex, altering one's clothes or appearance and using a different bathroom or changing room.

Following the vote, which was rejected with 40 votes against to 34 for, Mr Bridgen retweeted a post by Reclaim Party leader Laurence Fox, to whose party he recently defected after being expelled from the Conservatives for comparing vaccines to the Holocaust.

Mr Fox had named a number of Conservative MPs who had voted against the proposal, saying they "voted against the motion and in support of the grooming and mutilation of children."

"Both of the main political parties are a danger to your children and a danger to your family," he added.

As a result, Mr Bridgen has been accused of "unparliamentary behaviour" and incitement of violence against those who voted against the motion.

Conservative former minister Caroline Nokes said: "A number of Members of this House have been accused of being in support of grooming children. I have looked on the Metropolitan Police's website. It is very specific that grooming is when a person builds a relationship with a child, young person or an adult who is at risk so they can abuse them and manipulate them into doing things. The abuse is usually sexual.

"That accusation has been retweeted by the Member for North West Leicestershire and I seek the House, and indeed your, advice as to what action Members can take to ensure that there is some sort of sanction on that, I believe, unparliamentary behaviour."

Labour former minister Sir Chris Bryant added: "The tweet that is referred to says that several Conservative members voted against the motion, and 'in support of the grooming and mutilation of children'.

"I think that that is incitement – it is an incitement I would suggest – towards violence against Conservative members, and members of this side who voted against the motion today.

"I think it is probably also actionable, and if any of the members on the Conservative side want to pursue that course of action, I would stand with them."

He also slammed Mr Bridgen's bid as "abhorrent and despicable", saying it "chills his bones".

However, Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans said MPs' tweets were "not a matter for the chair".

He added: "Nevertheless, members should remember that moderation is desirable outside the chamber as well as within it, especially when criticising members for their conduct in parliamentary proceedings."

Mr Bridgen told the PA news agency: "Of course MPs who voted down my Child Protection Bill are feeling sensitive.

"They don't like being held to account by the public, who overwhelmingly reject their point of view.

"In an open parliamentary democracy, all votes are recorded and open, quite rightly, to public scrutiny. It appears some colleagues wish that their votes were secret.

"Given they opposed my proposed Bill to stop the ideological indoctrination of children, which is against Section 406 of the Education Act, and for parents to have knowledge any social transitioning taking place at school involving their children, which is also the law.

"Those who voted against my Bill were actually voting against the law as it stands today. All I was asking was for the existing laws to be actually enforced."

He also said public support on social media was overwhelmingly with himself and Mr Fox.