A YORK MP is to hold a public meeting on Syria air strikes tonight.

Rachael Maskell, a shadow defence minister, has organised the meeting for 7pm tonight, Monday, November 30, at Bootham School.

She has already received hundreds of letters from constituents on the current crisis in Syria, and said: 

"On a matter as serious as the one before me as the MP for York Central, and as delicate as the situation is in Syria and the Middle East region, it is vital that everyone has an opportunity to listen to the core issues and then to have a say.

"I will be presenting the proposition that the Prime Minister brought to the House of Commons today at the meeting. Ultimately I will be the person who has the weight of responsibility to vote on this important matter, but will not do so until everyone has had the opportunity to put across their views.

"I have engaged in a genuine listening exercise for some time now, listening to the views from different groups in the city, but now that the Prime Minister has set out his case for extending military operations into Syria, it is vital for MPs to listen to the opinions of their constituents in response to his statement.

"These are complicated matters, and I am not looking for constituents to be experts on the issue, but it is through talking that we shape our views and learn from each other. All contributions will be very welcome.”

Anyone who cannot make the meeting can contact the York Central MP on rachael.maskell.mp@parliament.uk.