MEMBERS of Parliament in Cumbria and north Lancashire have been having their say on the Prime Minister’s controversial decision to back airstrikes in Syria.

The UK, US and France bombed three government sites in Syria in response to suspected chemical weapon attacks carried out by by Bashar al-Assad’s regime in the war-torn nation.

Theresa May gave the green light for British military forces to support the airstrikes over the weekend, but it has sparked a debate over the legality of the force used.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been the most vocal opponent of the action, but Barrow-in-Furness Labour MP John Woodcock took a different stance to his party leader.

“I think it’s right the Prime Minister has taken action,” he said.

“This could be an ongoing commitment if that is what’s necessary to take out this chemical weapons capability.

“It has been of grave significance that we’ve seen, since 2013, an increasing willingness of Assad’s regime to use them in full view of the watching world. It’s a good thing that action has been taken.”

Morecambe and Lunesdale’s Conservative MP was also supportive of the strikes. In the House of Commons chamber, he said: “We are now in 2018 and we have seen atrocities committed time and time again.

“It is legal that we took that decision and we did carry it out in a legal basis.”

Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said he understood why action had been taken but criticised Mrs May without having the backing of MPs in the Commons.

“The Government should always be accountable to the people, so it was clearly wrong for Theresa May to go ahead without first seeking Parliament’s approval,” he said.

“However, there was a strong case for action given that Assad had targeted chemical weapons on innocent men, women and children.”

Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart said: “I support the prime minister’s decisive response to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons. These are a cruel and indiscriminate form of attack and I am hopeful that the recent, targeted air strikes will deter their use in the future. Britain, working with France and the United States, has sent a clear message that those who use chemical weapons will be met with a very forceful response from the international community."