A Labour MP in the UK has resigned as the party’s shadow faith minister after she suggested conscience protections for people tasked with officiating same-sex marriages.

Janet Daby, the Lewisham East MP, quit her front bench role on Monday and issued an apology for her remarks.

It comes after she last week told journalists there “needs to be something in place that respects people’s conscience and views of faith” if they don’t wish to officiate at same-sex marriages.

Ms Daby had been asked on a Zoom briefing for the Religion Media Centre as to whether it was appropriate for registrars to be sacked for refusing to hold same-sex wedding ceremonies.

She compared it to a vote of conscience in parliament, or nurses not wanting to participate in an abortion, she said there needs to be something in place that respects people’s conscience and views of faith, as well as that protects people’s right to be treated equally.

In a Twitter post on Monday, Ms Daby said: “I sincerely apologise for my misjudged comments on Friday, and have decided to resign as Shadow Faith Minister.”