South west Hertfordshire MPs unanimously back Theresa May

Theresa May was criticised this week for not seeking parliamentary approval before the strikes were carried out on Saturday.

However, Mrs May argued it was "legally and morally right" for the UK to join air strikes against the Syrian regime to prevent "further human suffering".

MP for Watford Richard Harrington called her decision “the right thing to do”.

He said: “We can't allow the Assad regime to use outlawed weapons on unarmed civilians. After seeing the horrific images of suffering children, I believe the speed with which we acted was vital to ensuring no further humanitarian suffering and to maintain the safety and security of our military operations.

“Of course this must be part of a wider diplomatic effort to end suffering in Syria."

Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, added: “I would have liked to see it happen in 2013 when the chemical attacks on women and children took place.

“She had the powers to do it and I support her fully.”

Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden previously told The Observer: “"I support her decision to launch targeted strikes to degrade the Assad regime’s capacity for using chemical weapons. We cannot allow the deliberate use of these outlawed weapons on unarmed civilians to go unchallenged.

"As the Prime Minister set out, military action needs to be part of a wider diplomatic effort to end the suffering in Syria."

The UK carried out joint strikes with France and the USA on Saturday in response to an alleged chemical attack on the city of Douma in Syria on April 7.

MPs held the first of two emergency debates on Syria yesterday which were approved by speaker John Bercow, with the second to take place today.

Monday's debate ended with a vote, forced by the SNP, on whether the house had sufficiently debated the matter of Syria.

The government won the motion by 314 to 36 votes, a majority of 278.

MP for South West Hertfordshire David Gauke has been contacted for comment.