A Conservative MP has apologised after posting a tweet saying he would like to punch a female journalist in the throat.

Michael Fabricant, whose late father Isaac was the rabbi of Brighton and Hove Synagogue, targeted Yasmin Alibhai-Brown after she appeared on a television debate.

The Lichfield MP had posted on Twitter: "I could never appear on a discussion prog with @y_alibhai. I would either end up with a brain haemorrhage or by punching her in the throat."

Mr Fabricant was widely criticised for the comment and later deleted the tweet.

"I, of course, withdraw and apologise," he said.

Ms Alibhai-Brown had called on David Cameron to withdraw the whip from Mr Fabricant, who is no stranger to controversy.

He was sacked as vice-chairman of the party earlier this year for criticising the HS2 rail project and making online comments about colleague Maria Miller.

Mr Fabricant was criticised in 2007 after he described an election defeat as being like "a holocaust".