A NORTH-EAST MP has explained her reason for not taking part in a Commons vote on air strikes in Iraq.

Following a debate on Friday (September 26), MPs approved military action against Islamic State targets in Iraq.

The prospect of military action in the Middle East was approved by an overwhelming majority, but Jenny Chapman, the Labour MP for Darlington, was one of a small number to miss the vote.

Mrs Chapman said she was excused attendance by Labour whips, as she had constituency business to attend to.

She said: "I had had this issue in my diary for months, meeting with the chief executives of the clinical commissioning group, Darlington Borough Council and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

"The whips were quite lenient with me, given that they were so sure it would pass."

It remains to be seen whether Mrs Chapman will take part in any vote on possible military action in Syria.

She was unwilling to be drawn on that issue and would only say 'it is a dreadful situation' when pressed for comment on the Middle East crisis.