Keighley MP Kris Hopkins says he feels “deeply uncomfortable” at the prospect of the UK doing nothing while people suffer in Syria.

Speaking this afternoon, he described his regret at the result of last night’s Commons vote in which MPs rejected a motion that military action could be required to protect Syrian civilians.

Mr Hopkins said: “The Government motion made clear that, before any military action could be considered, UN weapons inspectors should have the opportunity to brief the Security Council, a UN Security Council resolution should be sought and the House of Commons would be asked to vote again.

“Given these safeguards, I had no hesitation in supporting the motion and would do so again. But I must respect the will of parliament – reflecting the views of the British people – which did not want to see our country becoming involved militarily in Syria.

“However, it cannot be denied that the outcome of this vote was the one that Syria, Russia and Iran were hoping for.

“Five thousand innocent people lost their lives in the Halabja poison gas attack in 1988. One million innocent people died in the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Another 8,000 were massacred in the Srebrenica genocide of 1995.

“These horrific incidents remain indelible blots on humanity and to this list we can now add the chemical attack in Syria, which killed and injured hundreds and possibly thousands of people, including many children. There is little doubt that it was carried out by the Assad regime.”

He added: “I feel deeply uncomfortable at the prospect of the UK standing idly by and allowing innocent people to suffer when we have the option to help them.

“I sincerely hope that this is not the lasting legacy of how parliament chose to vote.”