Sussex MP Tim Loughton has accused celebrity mothers such as Victoria Beckham and Patsy Kensit of being "too posh to push" during childbirth.

In a stinging Commons attack, he accused the high-profile stars of encouraging a worrying trend towards elective caesarean section births.

The Tory health spokesman said this was partly to blame for the "alarmingly" high number of women who increase the risk of health problems by giving birth in this way.

A report published in October last year revealed 21.5 per cent of women were giving birth surgically - a six-fold increase since the Seventies.

Of these, seven per cent opted to have caesareans.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Mr Loughton told a debate on child health and maternity: "Why are rates so high? Of the total number of caesareans, seven per cent are elective - a trend increasingly encouraged by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Patsy Kensit.

"There is something of a culture of women who are 'too posh to push' and who opt for the convenience of choosing the time to produce their baby before returning to work, a drinks party or whatever it is that is more important to them."

Mr Loughton called for efforts to reduce the number of women undergoing surgical births because they carry health risks.

To back his argument, he quoted research from Mary Newburn, head of policy research for the National Childbirth Trust.

She said: "Caesareans are unnecessary surgery which increase health risks for women and babies, including haemorrhage, decreased fertility and problems with subsequent pregnancies."

Mr Loughton said other reasons for the increased use of surgery were more women giving birth later in life, when there is a greater chance of an operation being needed.