MP Douglas Chapman says he is “bitterly disappointed” that Prime Minster Theresa May gave the authority for British military action in Syria without first seeking the approval of Parliament.

UK joined American and French forces on Saturday in staging an early morning bombing of three Syrian government sites in response to a suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma.

The allied bombings were carried out despite pressure from opposition parties for the Prime Minister to recall Parliament so the UK’s participation in the ongoing conflict could be debated. 

Douglas Chapman, the SNP Spokesperson for Defence Procurement, said: “I was bitterly disappointed when Theresa May took the decision upon herself to authorise military action in Syria last weekend without a parliamentary vote.

“These abhorrent chemical attacks on the Syrian people cannot be tolerated but an informed debate should have been held in Parliament to discuss an appropriate course of action and to know what our proposed resolution to this conflict is supposed to be.”

MPs held the first of two emergency debates on Syria yesterday (Monday), with the second due to take place today. 

Monday's debate ended with a vote, forced by the SNP, on whether the House had sufficiently debated the matter of Syria.

The government won the motion by 314 to 36 votes, a majority of 278.

Douglas Chapman added: “This debate is a vital opportunity to ensure that there is no future change in the role of the British armed forces in Syria without Parliament’s approval.

"Polls show that the Prime Minister has failed to convince the British people of the need for such attacks and many seek a sustainable plan for peace rather than fuelling the fire of more conflict."