Orpington MP Jo Johnson has warned renaming a new research ship Boaty McBoatface would "not be suitable", despite the suggestion winning a landslide victory in a public poll.

The name for the new £200m vessel, suggested by a member of the public, topped the online poll by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) with more than 120,000 votes.

Boaty McBoatface received four times the amount of votes of its closest rival, but despite the huge public support it may not become the chosen name.

According to the NERC the final decision will be made by a panel, rather than the number of votes.

Mr Johnson, the universities and science minister who is believed to have the final say,  warned some suggestions were "more suitable than others".

Criticised for claims he is ignoring public democracy, Mr Johnson said he was "thinking very hard" about the 7,000 suggestions made by the public.

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Orpington MP Jo Johnson.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We were looking for a name that would fit the mission and be in keeping with the tradition of the royal research vessel and their commitment to scientific endeavour.

"It's going to be doing science on some of the most important issues facing humanity.

"Global warming, climate change, rising sea levels. These are issues that affect the lives of millions of people around the world.

"So you want a name that fits the gravity and the importance of the subject."

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The NERC thanked members of the public for their suggestions and votes. 

A statement posted online said: "NERC would like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign to name the UK's next world-class polar research ship.

"NERC will now review all of the suggested names and the final decision for the name will be announced in due course."

Other suggestions included The RRS Bowie, RRS The Miss Cilla Black and RRS Kanye West.