Most West Midlands MPs back air strikes on Syria
Air strikes by America, Britain and France on alleged chemical weapons sites in Syria were 'justified' according to most MPs across the Black Country and Staffordshire.
They were responding to news that the US-led force bombed three government sites in Syria in the early hours of Saturday following a suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma, which killed dozens of people.
Explosions hit the capital, Damascus, as well as two locations near the city of Homs.
Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, said the strikes were 'highly successful' and that all RAF crews had returned safely. The South Staffordshire MP said the strikes played 'an important role in terms of degrading the Syrian regime in using chemical weapons in the future'.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hit back that it had only increased his resolve to continue 'fighting and crushing' rebel forces in the country.
But Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, said: "President Assad has used chemical weapons over and over again against his own people.
"If we believe the use of chemical weapons is wrong, then at some point we have to act to enforce the global ban on them. We cannot continually stand back and do nothing.
"This is particularly true when we've just asked all our allies to stand in solidarity with us."
Stourbridge MP Margot James was 'strongly in support' of the air strikes. "I think we should see it through and eliminate Assad's chemical weapons capabilities.
"We should have done this years ago. Back in 2013, parliament voted against action on Assad after he used chemical weapons on his own people, which led to Obama losing confidence.
The Conservative MP added: "I think the tone of the Prime Minister's statement is right."
Out on the campaign trail in Walsall on Saturday, fellow Tory Eddie Hughes said his constituents were in general agreement with the strikes.
He said: "Almost without exception the popular consensus on the street was 'That guy's got to be stopped'. Whilst there is no rush to start bombing, when you have a tyrannical leader in charge, the best way to respond, rather than in engaging in war, is to carry out strategic strikes. It seems a completely rational response."
Dudley South MP Mike Wood said using air strikes was the only possible solution - after previous interventions by the UN had failed, and Russia at the UN Security Council vetoed a move to set up an independent panel to investigate chemical weapons in Syria.
"I think using air strikes is the only possible way that we can stop Syria using those horrific weapons which are used against his people including children," he said.
"If we go back to a point where countries can use chemical weapons, it will make the world a much more dangerous place."
The Tory politician doubted RAF planes went inside Syrian airspace and said the strikes would have been carefully coordinated to prevent any civilian casualties.
Bill Cash, Conservative MP for Stone in Staffordshire, also agreed with the cabinet's decision to make a stand.
"I feel the action is justified. It's been accumulative over an extended period, and warnings have been given to the Syrian government which have not been heeded.
"There comes a time when action is necessary and therefore I feel the action, which is of limited impact, is justified in the circumstances."
Eleanor Smith, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South West, was the only dissenting voice.
She said: "I wish they hadn't done it. I wish there had been more of a dialogue. If nothing else it should have gone to Parliament for a vote. I'm wondering what's going to happen now. We will see what it will lead to."
