Jeremy Hunt has said he believes the time limit for having an abortion should be halved from 24 weeks to 12 in an interview about his prime ministerial ambitions.

When he was health secretary, Mr Hunt said he would back a call to cut the legal abortion limit – he has now confirmed this is still what he believes.

He did not guarantee that the time limit would remain unchanged should he emerge victorious from the crowded race to replace Theresa May as Conservative Party leader.

While it would not be part of his government’s agenda, he said any legislation brought forward by backbench MPs on the issue would be put to the House of Commons.

“My view hasn’t changed on that,” the foreign secretary said when asked if he still believed 12 weeks should be the abortion limit, in an interview with Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday.

Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Show all 7 1 /7 Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Derry Girls cast members Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan (right) join MPS and women impacted by Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Heidi Allen (second right) joins the protest PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster A luggage tag on a suitcase, symbolising the women who travel from Northern Ireland to England for terminations PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster The campaigners march across Westminster Bridge PA Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Counter-protesters Rebecca Morgan (left) and her daughter Helen, one, demonstrate in favour of Northern Ireland's current laws Getty Images Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Protesters supporting Northern Ireland's abortion laws at Parliament Square Getty Images Northern Ireland abortion protest in Westminster Demonstrators pull suitcases to symbolise the women who travel from Northern Ireland to England for a termination AFP/Getty Images

When asked to guarantee the 24-week limit would stay under a Hunt government, he said: “What I can guarantee is this will be a matter for the House of Commons, not a matter for government policy.

“The prime minister will have his view just like every one of the 650 MPs and these will be decided as a matter of conscience.

Picture: (@RidgeOnSunday / Twitter)

“But it won't be a government policy to change the law in that respect.

“It won't be government policy to have a vote. If backbenchers choose to have a vote, it would be a free vote and everyone will vote with their conscience.”

Mr Hunt said in a 2012 interview that he had reached his view after reviewing the evidence on abortion and said that, while he is a Christian, it was not a decision he had reached because of his faith.

The issue has resurfaced in a leadership race which has seen one frontrunner, Dominic Raab, declare he is “probably not” a feminist.