MP Neil Carmichael voted with the Government on last night's defeated motion calling for military intervention in Syria.

In a statement posted on his website yesterday, Thursday, the Conservative MP said: "No constituent who has contacted me about the situation in Syria disagrees that a chemical attack has happened, causing hundreds of deaths, is a war crime.

"We must uphold international law which prohibits the use of chemical weapons.

"The motion before the House of Commons today specifically states that every effort should be made to secure a UN Security Council Resolution before any military action is taken and that any direct British involvement in such action must require a further vote in the House of Commons.

"I will be supporting the motion in the House today.

"However, I would not support us taking military action in any future vote without appropriate consideration of the evidence, consequences of such action and international opinion, including the United Nations."