Opinion poll shows British voters against Syria strike action‏

A poll carried out by The Sunday Telegraph shows that the majority of British voters oppose military intervention in Syria.

The results suggest that David Cameron’s acceptance of last month’s Commons vote, the result of which was against his own call for military action, was in line with the public mood.

The poll shows that the biggest proportion of voters do not want MPs to stage a second Commons vote on intervention if United Nations weapons inspectors confirm that the August 24^th attack on civilians involved chemicals.

A total of 46 per cent say MPs should not vote again if proof is found, while 36 per cent say they should.

The poll also highlights the public’s deep mistrust towards interventions abroad as 71 per cent of voters said they felt that recent events in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq had made them less likely to back other UK military actions.

Meanwhile 47 per cent say Britain should take no military action, but continue to provide aid to the refugees, whilst 16 per cent says that humanitarian aid should be stopped altogether. Only 20 per cent say Britain should take military action along with the US.

The findings will be considered as a blow for David Cameron as it appears that he didn’t succeed in persuading the public of the necessity to intervene in Syria. The prime minister would be taking a big risk if he tried a second time to win the support of MPs.

US opinion polls also show a majority of voters there are opposed to any action as President Barack Obama began a major push to get the US Congress to approve the use of force against Assad’s regime.

Ludovic Caritey