Last night the commons vote on a Syria intervention was lost after a number of government rebels, including Cambridge City MP Julian Huppert voted against.

Taking military action is never an easy choice. But doing nothing whilst chemical weapons are used, on this planet, is wrong. Appeasement rarely works. Hand wringing conscientious objectors during the world wars were seen as weak, letting down comrades and country and in the extreme cowards.

Bullies need dealing with in a language they understand and that is strength.

Last night this country came across as weak. Let us hope we do not pay too high a price for this.