Bedfordshire MP, Andrew Selous, speaks ahead of vote for military action against Syria

Military action will be debated by MPs today in a preliminary motion in the House of Commons, after the government backed out of an early vote on British intervention.

Speaking to the LBO ahead of today’s debate, Mr Selous said: “I am like most people in that I am very cautious about the UK having further involvement in this war.

“But I think that comments made today have changed things.

“Chemical weapons on the battlefield were not used in the Second World War as a result of being banned in the 1920s, so it a pretty retrograde step for a country.

“That is absolutely an issue we need to address because it will look extremely bad on our generation if we let that happen.”

It has been reported this morning that US President Barack Obama has said he has “not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria”, but revealed that the Syrian government’s forces were behind a recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus.

Conservative Mr Selous added: “I share people’s reservations in getting involved in what is a civil war in the Middle East.

“We do not yet know what America is going to do and weapons inspectors have not come up with the report to the UN Security Council.

“I am very worried and yes, it is a very split issue.

“I will listen very carefully to the debate today, which is about the general principle.

“It is to air all sides of the issue to help me form my opinion, but I will also listen to what my constituents have to say on the matter.”

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