The district’s MP has said a democratic vote on military action in Syria is a “bad idea.”

The comments come after a chemical attack in the formerly rebel-held town of Douma on Saturday, with President Bashar al-Assad denying any involvement.

Responding to a constituent on social media who called for a vote in the House of Commons, James Cleverly claimed most MPs were not able to see intelligence reports or get private briefings from diplomats and military chiefs in order to make an informed decision.

Mr Cleverly said MPs would have to vote without being equipped with all the facts, citing a similar case in 2013 when former Prime Minister David Cameron lost a vote on military action in Syria.

He said: "The thing to remember is this has to be based on a whole load of things, which most MPs are not able to know.

"In 2013 what we saw was when Britain and America made the point that to use chemical weapons was a red line and Assad would not go unpunished.

"MPs voted military action down and we didn't take action, they took the message that we are not prepared to back up our words with action.

"My view is that there are situations where we have to do the right thing and really it was only Gordon Brown who initiated the habit of parliament voting on this."

Meanwhile, Theresa May has summoned ministers to an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the UK's response, with many speculating she will take action with a vote.

Mr Cleverly added: "We took this to the United Nations, we set a vote to investigate and it was vetoed by Russia.

"We have had a chemical weapons attack on the streets of Salisbury.

"As a government and a nation we have to choose to do the right thing."