Syria - UK MPs vote no to military action

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that the UK won't take military action in Syria, following a vote against the plans.

MPs were called back early from their summer break to hold an emergency meeting, which ended in a vote late on Thursday 29 August.

They debated for hours over how Britain should react to the news of a suspected chemical weapons attack near the Syrian capital Damascus.

A government motion, calling for a 'tough response' which may have included military strikes, was rejected by 272 votes to 285.

Mr Cameron was in favour of military action but he faced opposition from the Labour party and some Conservative MPs.

Speaking in Parliament after the vote, the Prime Minister said: "It is clear to me that the British Parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action. I get that and the government will act accordingly."

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I think today the House of Commons spoke for the British people who said they did not want a rush to war."

Find out more about the debate.