TWO Dorset MPs rebelled against the government in a bid to outlaw trade deals with countries that are committing genocide.

Bournemouth East's Tobias Ellwood and North Dorset MP Simon Hoare were among 33 Conservative MPs who voted to reverse an amendment to the Trade Bill made by the House of Lords.

The change made by peers would have forced ministers to withdraw from any free trade agreement with any country which the High Court rules is committing genocide.

And the Prime Minister’s working majority of 87 dwindled to just 11 as MPs voted to reverse the amendment by 319 votes to 308.

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The rebellion was led by former ministers Nus Ghani and Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

Mr Ellwood said he was saddened at having to rebel in order to encourage the Government to "take the moral high ground".

He said: "For too long, the West has bit its tongue as China ignored international trade laws, exercised human rights abuses, while the West still hoped that it would mature into a responsible international citizen.

"That clearly is not going to happen. China is on a geopolitical collision course with the West, taking full advantage of our wobbly international rules-based order while we remain in denial.

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"This Lords amendment today is about offering strategic clarity, not just directed at China and standing up to its human rights abuses, but also to the United States, our closest ally. This is an opportunity for Britain to craft a post-Brexit international rule as we assume the G7 presidency.

"The world watched and hesitated when genocide took place in Rwanda, and indeed in Syria. Let’s not hesitate again. Let’s have the moral courage to stand tall in what we believe in and what we are willing to defend.

"And it saddens me that I’m having to rebel here today to encourage my Government to take the moral high ground. It should be our default position."

The rebels also tabled an amendment which they believed retained the thrust of proposals introduced by peers while easing Government concerns, including about the role of the courts in trade deals, although this was not pushed to a vote.

The Government did not appear to aid its cause to dampen the rebellion when trade minister Greg Hands admitted he had not read the compromise proposal tabled by Tory colleagues.