Syria crisis: Rifkind pushes for military action

A House of Commons debate on intervention in Syria is under way ahead of a vote on the the UK's response to a chemical attack near Damascus.

MPs will vote on a motion which could pave the way for military action in Syria.

Conservative Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Foreign Secretary, told MPs that military action will be a deterrent for the Syrian regime.

He said: "At this very moment the Assad regime in Damascus are watching very carefully as to whether they will get away with what they have done."

"There is every certainty that if we don't make that effort to punish and deter then these actions will indeed continue," he added.