PROTECTING national security and an obligation to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with France were just some of the reasons Dudley North MP Ian Austin voted in favour of extending military action to Syria.

The government motion against so-called Islamic State militants - also referred to as Daesh - in the war-torn country was passed last night (Wednesday) 397 to 223 after a 10 hour debate in the House of Commons.

Before making his decision, which defied Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's position, Mr Austin said he "listened carefully to people in Dudley" after sending surveys to 5,000 constituents, asking for their views.

He said: "My survey was completed by over 600 local people and I received hundreds of other emails, with a strong majority in support of plans to tackle Daesh.

"The responses I received showed that over 80 percent of local people think that further action against Daesh is needed, and 70 percent thought that military action must be part of the solution.

"I think we will all agree that this is a very difficult issue and there are legitimate arguments on both sides, but it’s my job to weigh up all of the arguments, decide how to vote, explain what I’ve done and be held accountable for it."

Mr Austin said that in light of recent terror attacks and seven foiled plots to attack Britain, he believed that "precise, limited and targeted action" was necessary to address the "growing threat", adding that similar action has been taking place in Iraq for the past 14 months without any reported civilian casualties.

Defending his decision, he said: "Daesh have already carried out catastrophic attacks around the world, and we know they are planning more. I believe that we have to take responsibility for our own national security, working with other countries like Iraq, Jordan and France to end this threat.

"We are part of a coalition of over 60 nations and we must continue to work with other countries to cut off the flow of finance, fighters and weapons to Daesh in Syria and Iraq. France has asked for our help and solidarity, and I think we have an obligation to stand together, shoulder-to-shoulder, with them and others in opposition to the ideology and brutality of Daesh."

The MP said the motion he supported also sets out a comprehensive plan to work with other countries in the region and around the world to establish a long-term plan for peace in Syria, including support for the Vienna talks on a cease-fire and political settlement and calls for a long-term plan for peace and reconstruction in Syria.

Although Mr Austin is aware that some local people do not think airstrikes will be effective, he said: "There is good evidence that they can help defeat Daesh. Airstrikes already taking place in Syria have helped the Kurds to resist Daesh’s attempt to take Kobane and in Iraq it helped the Kurds to retake Sinjar.

"In Iraq, the RAF is already showing how it can effectively carry out targeted airstrikes to undermine Daesh’s military activities using their particular technological capability and skills.

"This coalition effort is helping to degrade Daesh’s capacity to launch attacks and prevent them from expanding the territory they control."

Mr Austin continued: "I know how worried many people are by this decision. I promise you that I am worried about it too, but just as there are risks and consequences of taking action, I think there are also risks and consequences of not taking action.

"I respect and understand the legitimate concerns against this form of action, but the threat is facing us right now and there are rarely, if ever, perfect circumstances in which to use military forces."