 Dr Tonge is stepping down as an MP at the next election
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Jenny Tonge has been asked by Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy to quit his front bench following her remarks about Palestinian suicide bombers.
The Lib Dem MP has insisted she did not condone suicide bombers despite saying she would consider becoming one if she were Palestinian.
Now Mr Kennedy has asked her to step down as children's spokeswoman.
He said: "Her recent remarks about suicide bombers are completely unacceptable."
"They are not compatible with Liberal Democrat party policies and principles.
"There can be no justification, under any circumstances for taking innocent lives through terrorism."
Repeated criticism
He added he was sorry to lose Dr Tonge from his frontbench team.
Mr Kennedy's decision was announced after a day in which Dr Tonge was repeatedly criticised.
Dr Tonge said she understood her remarks may have upset some people but insisted she was not condoning violence.
"I was just trying to say how, having seen the violence and the humiliation and the provocation that the Palestinian people live under every day and have done since their land was occupied by Israel, I could understand and was trying to understand where [suicide bombers] were coming from," Dr Tonge told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
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 Charles Kennedy should say whether he stands by her comments and if he doesn't he should deal with her firmly
Michael Ancram
Tory MP
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But fellow MP Louise Ellman, a member of the Labour friends of Israel group, said: "Jenny should be making an apology.
"She is giving the green light to terrorism at a time when we should all be urging peaceful negotiations to end the tragic conflict in the Middle East."
Dr Tonge is stepping down as MP for Richmond Park in south-west London at the next election.
She was speaking to a pro-Palestinian lobby when she said of Palestinian suicide bombers: "If I had to live in that situation - and I say that advisedly - I might just consider becoming one myself."
Trip to Israel
Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said the comments would "sicken those across the world who have lost loved ones to suicide bombers".
He continued: "There can never be an excuse for taking innocent lives, and I am surprised that Ms Tonge is voicing her support for such terror."
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HAVE YOUR SAY
Dr Tonge has drawn attention to the root causes of terrorism
Mark, Birmingham
Send us your comments
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Israel's ambassador to London, Dr Zvi Shtauber said Dr Tonge's comments were "appalling".
"In my mind no grievance can justify a campaign of terror against children, bombing buses, bombing coffee shops," he said.
A statement from Dr Tonge's party said: "She was not speaking for Liberal Democrats - Liberal Democrats do not condone terrorism in any circumstances, whether by suicide bombers or anyone else."
Kenneth Collins, a former chair of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, said: "The comments were irresponsible and phrased in a way that people will take from them that she was in favour of terror and not peace, and I'm sure that is not what she intended."
