THE SNP is facing an angry backlash from political opponents who have accused it of using the vote to strike at Islamic State targets in Syria to further the cause of independence.

The First Minister's chief political spokesman denied the momentous Commons decision amounted to a "material change in circumstances" that justified a second independence referendum.

However, Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem politicians accused the Nationalists - who rejected David Cameron's case for bombing in Syria - of using the vote fuel divisions between Scotland the rest of the UK.

The row came came as RAF Typhoon jets took off from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray to take part in operations over Syria.

British forces were last night gearing up for further attacks against the militants following the first wave of strikes within hours of the Commons vote for military action on Wednesday night.

The engagement by UK aircraft was hailed by France as a response to the call for "European solidarity" issued by President Francois Hollande in the aftermath of last month's Paris terror attacks which left 130 dead.

Mr Cameron warned the fight against Islamic State would require patience and persistence. Politicians reacted furiously to claims by Alex Salmond that Tony Benn, the late father of Labour's shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, would be "birling in his grave" over his son's support for airstrikes.

They also condemned Angus Robertson, the SNP's Westminster leader, for citing a self-selecting online survey to claim opposition to airstrikes was significantly stronger in Scotland than England.

Ian Murray, Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, said Mr Salmond's remarks were "utterly repulsive" and added: "For the SNP playing politics and independence always comes first."

Mr Salmond made his comments during a radio interview, backing an earlier message sent on Twitter by SNP MP George Kerevan.

His comments were denounced by Ton Benn's grand-daughter, Emily Benn, who tweeted: "Mr Salmond, Your comments are both deeply offensive and simply untrue. I hope you reflect and retract them."

There was anger, too, at Mr Robertson's claim that 72 per cent of Scots opposed airstrikes.

The claim was based on an unscientific online survey and was sharply at odds with the most recent opinion poll, by YouGov, which suggested 44 per cent of Scots backed airstrikes compared with 48 per cent of people across the UK as a whole.

YouGov found 41 per cent of Scots were opposed, compared with 31 one per cent across the UK.

Mr Robertson was also criticised for complaining about the deployment of the Lossiemouth-based fighter jets.

The MP launched an SNP membership drive on social media following the vote and yesterday the party opened an online "Don't bomb Syria" petition on its website.

The petition quickly reached 80,000 names.

Commenting on it, SNP business convener Derek Mackay said the decision to strike at so-called Islamic State targets had been made "despite the support of just two of Scotland’s 59 MPs".

He claimed it had "been met with public disapproval across Scotland".

His words were echoed by Nicola Sturgeon.

Speaking during First Minister's Questions, she sent her good wishes to service personnel engaged in airstrikes but added: "I remain deeply troubled by the decision of the UK Government to take the country into conflict with no strategy, no exit plan and against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Scotland's MPs."

Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, said the country should "come together" to support its armed forces.

Mr Murray, who voted against airstrikes, said: "This is too important an issue to play petty politics with, but that is exactly what some SNP MPs have done.

"To use a dead parent to score cheap points is utterly repulsive. This is dreadful behaviour coming from the very top of the SNP and it must stop."

He added: "The SNP leader at Westminster, and member of the National Security Council, was trying to sign up members to his party within minutes of the vote.

"It doesn't seem to matter what the issue is, how important it is, for the SNP playing politics and independence always comes first."

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: "Using such an important issue for political score pointing is disgraceful. But this is what we have come to expect from the Nationalists.

"A group of hard-line separatists who use every opportunity, no matter how sensitive, to promote their own political ends."

Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie said: "The SNP will use anything, voodoo 'polling' included, to advance their independence obsession.

"The issue of air strikes in Syria and global terrorism is far more important than this obsession."

Asked whether the vote marked a change in circumstances that justified a second independence referendum, the First Minister's chief political spokesman said: "No, I wouldn't say that.

"But what it does demonstrate is that as long as Scotland is represented at Westminster the entirety of Scottish MPs can vote a certain way on an important issue like this and Scotland's voice will still be drowned out by voices from elsewhere."