Soccer-loving MP Stephen Hepburn will snub the Queen's golden jubilee - to play for an MPs football team on a trip to the World Cup.

His decision comes eight months after he was slammed for enjoying a three-week jaunt to see the British Lions play rugby union in Australia - while jobs were being axed at a shipyard in his constituency.

Mr Hepburn today said: "I prefer football to staying around for the Golden Jubilee."

The Labour backbencher - an avid Sunderland FC supporter - has put himself up for selection for the ten-day trip.

A squad of 25 MPs will be picked to jet off to play sides from the Japaneseand South Korean parliaments.

Then they will watch England take on Sweden and Argentina in the World Cup in June.

The decision by Mr Hepburn - a midfielder for the House of Commons footballteam - came under fire from Tories in the borough who branded him "disloyal".

Cheryl Anderson, chairman of South Shields Conservative Association, said: "Regardless of what you think of the monarchy, the Queen is still head of state, and if you snub the head of state, you snub the state."

The games are designed to promote international relations and raise money for charity.

Mr Hepburn said hundreds of MPs had put their names forward for selection for the trip, which will cost sponsors roughly £50,000.