A RELIGIOUS organisation has reported on the voting record of North-East MPs.

The Christian Institute said it had released the record covering ballots on 23 Parliamentary votes - giving red crosses to those that did not comply with its translation of Christian principles, and a tick for those in agreement.

Among the votes deemed unchristian were those for changing the abortion limit to 26 weeks, reducing the homosexual age of consent to 16 and research using human cloning. Voting for restricting the parental right to smack was also deemed unchristian.

Sedgefield MP and Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is known as a committed Christian, did not fare too well according to the institute's criteria, scoring seven crosses, no ticks and 16 abstentions.

Darlington MP Alan Milburn and Durham North West MP Hilary Armstrong only got a tick each, for voting against abolishing the blasphemy law.

Of the Labour MPs, Stockton North's Frank Cook fared the best, getting four ticks, including voting for "mainly Christian" religious education throughout England and Wales in 1988.

But far outstripping most in the region was former Tory leader William Hague, MP for Richmond, North Yorkshire, with 13 ticks, two crosses and seven abstentions.

Mike Judge, spokesman for the Newcastle-based institute, said: "I think people of other faiths will be interested to know how their MPs have voted. They will also have strong views on issues such as abortion and gambling."