Defence Secretary Philip Hammond 'disappointed' at Syria vote

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has ruled out British military intervention in Syria, after the government suffered a surprise defeat in the House of Commons.

MPs voted by 285 to 272 against a government motion seeking support, in principle, for a targeted response to a suspected chemical attack by President Assad's forces last week.

Mr Hammond rejected the suggestion that the vote called into question David Cameron's authority.

However, the defence secretary admitted on BBC's Newsnight that the outcome was a disappointment, and he blamed it on feelings about the Iraq conflict.