Since the conflict in Syria began, I have been in contact with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office many times to convey the views of constituents who are troubled about the suffering there, yet who are worried about the possibility of escalating the divisions even further.

In such a complex situation, supplying military weapons and materiel (even though other military powers appear to be following this doctrine) would, in my view, make the situation much worse. I have expressed this view in no uncertain terms to the Foreign Secretary.

I believe very strongly that the biggest weapon we have is diplomacy, coupled with this country’s experience in conflict resolution through peaceful measures.

The implications of whether the government should consider sending weaponry to the Syrian ‘rebels’ is a worrying one. They come from very diverse groups, ranging from moderates to those with extremist views. They are not a homogeneous organisation.

There are problems with other solutions that have been proposed, such as a “no fly zone”, because this is not like the rebellion which led to the overturning of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, where the rebels held distinct areas. In Syria, the conflict is concentrated and urbanised.

The danger is that there could ultimately be sectarian conflict, similar to that seen in Iraq.

I put all these arguments to the Foreign Secretary and have been assured that the objective of achieving a political and diplomatic resolution to this awful division remains paramount.

When the House of Commons returns, I am arranging a meeting with Alistair Burt MP, the Minister with responsibility for relations with the Middle East, to ensure that the views and concerns of my constituents and myself are expressed directly to our government in greater depth.