BRITONS are opposed two to one to America launching air strikes on Syria as No 10 made clear the UK Government has "absolutely no plans" to bring the issue back to Westminster despite pressure from some MPs.

 

A ComRes telephone poll of 1000 adults said 57% of people were against the US Congress sanctioning military action to deter the regime of President Bashar al Assad from using chemical weapons, with only 29% in favour. Some 80% said any air strikes should first be sanctioned by the United Nations.

This followed a BBC survey that said almost three-quarters of Britons felt MPs were right last week to reject military action, with two-thirds stating they did not care if this damaged UK/US relations.

As the political fallout to Thursday's Commons vote continued, Alex Salmond made clear that a Nationalist government of an independent Scotland would have supported the UN route.

The First Minister said: "Last Thursday, we avoided engagement in Syria by the skin of our teeth. But even then, the Commons rejected a positive amendment supported by the vast majority of Scottish MPs for finding a route to a solution through the UN.

"The amendment gave an indication of the sort of role an independent Scotland will be able to play on the international stage: we will work with our allies to help victims of conflicts, contribute to conflict resolution, and ensure war criminals are brought before the international criminal court."

This prompted criticism from Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, who said: "To imply the deep-rooted Syrian conflict would be resolved by ­Scottish independence is a naive and simplistic approach to world affairs that makes me cringe. The House of Commons' debate was a mature one that fully recognised the complexity of the challenge we face. Of course there was division, but to suggest an independent Scotland would see into the future with greater clarity and unanimity is difficult to accept."

At Westminster, the Coalition sent out mixed messages: at times making clear there would be no rerun of Thursday's vote; and at others leaving the option open should circumstances change.

Downing Street yesterday made clear it was ruling out the idea of a return to the issue of military strikes. David Cameron's spokesman said: "The Government has no plans to go back to parliament."

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, was also adamant against revisiting the issue. He said he could not "foresee any circumstances" under which MPs would be asked to vote again.

At Commons question time, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said: "Parliament has spoken clearly on this issue and it's unlikely to want to revisit it unless the circumstances change very significantly."

Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Business Secretary, said Labour would consider a future motion before the Commons.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said a new motion could be debated if better evidence of chemical attacks emerged.

Mr Hammond, facing criticism from MPs over chemical licences sold to the Syrian regime, accepted that the chemicals involved - sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride - could have been used to produce poisonous gases.