DORSET MPs have spoken of their concerns about the crisis in the Middle East ahead of Thursday’s Commons debate on Syria.

The prospect of UK/US military intervention has increased following last week’s chemical gas attack which has been blamed on the Assad regime.

Christchurch MP, Conservative Chris Chope said he was very “sceptical” about the possibility of military action.

“I don’t know the motion on which we will be invited to vote, but I am incredibly sceptical about engaging in war with another sovereign country.

“It is one thing with UN Security Council resolutions but it is not the case here.

“I don’t think we even know whether the chemical weapons were used by the government or the rebel forces.

New Forest MP Desmond Swayne said he would wait to see what the evidence was before making a judgement.

Bournemouth East MP, Tobias Ellwood said: “We don’t know what we are voting on yet, so it’s difficult for me to say.

“Currently, we have not seen the UN inspector’s report. I think there is a natural moral want to react to the use of chemical weapons but any tactical response must be part of a wider strategic objective and I’m not yet clear on what that is. Hopefully, that will become apparent in the statement that is being made tomorrow.”

And Conor Burns, Bournemouth West, said: “I will be going to London with a very open mind to listen to what the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary have to say about what they have in mind in terms of military intervention.

“Crucially, I am interested in what will bring benefit to the people of Syria, who are in the crossfire of a brutal, bloody civil war.”

He said he has “serious concerns” about some of the rebel leaders, adding: “It would be foolish to make lazy assumptions that they are Western liberal democrats, and there are strong links in some cases to Al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The last thing we want is to replace one grotesque evil with another.”

He said it was “inconceivable” for the West to do nothing.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said MPs did not know the actual wording of the vote or what the motion would be yet.

But he said: “If the motion is calling on us to back the use of force I will vote against it. The reason I would vote against it is the only option open to us is to drop missiles into Syria.

“Despite the modern technology and accuracy of these weapons a missile will not bring a regime to its knees.

He added: “Boots on the ground is totally unacceptable and I have to ask – after our armed forces have been emasculated – what boots?

“We have hardly got any left.

“Whatever regime we depose in countries like Syria, history has proved again and again there’s often another regime hanging in the wings.

What he did support, Mr Drax said, was humanitarian support and aid as the UK is already doing.

He said: “If we can help the refugees, then clearly that’s right.”