KEIGHLEY MP Kris Hopkins has voted in favour of the UK taking part in air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq.

The motion was carried in the Commons this afternoon, with 524 MPs giving their support and 43 voting against.

Speaking from Westminster, Mr Hopkins – the local government minister – said: "As someone who served as a member of our armed forces, it was with a heavy heart that I supported the motion for the UK to join coalition forces in air strikes against ISIL. But there can be no other way.

"President Obama has chillingly but rightly described ISIL as a ‘network of death’ and there can be no doubt that they pose a threat to our national security which must be dealt with.

"No right-minded person who has seen the images of their so-called fighters standing over hostages – one of them British – as they prepared to behead them can feel anything but sickening disgust for the evil encapsulated by ISIL.

"And they are backed by huge amounts of money and a large arsenal of modern weapons.

"We must be very clear that their heinous crimes have nothing whatsoever to do with Islam and I pay warm tribute to the many Muslims in Britain who have said loudly and clearly that ‘this is not being done in my name'.

“By agreeing to join the international action against ISIL, we are answering a formal request by the sovereign government of Iraq to support a coalition of 60 countries in dealing with a deadly terrorist threat. The United Kingdom is doing the right thing for the right reasons.

“I wish our remarkable servicemen and women well in the operations which now lie ahead.

"We should feel proud of what they are being asked to do on our behalf and in the name of good.”

South Craven MP Julian Smith also voted in favour of the action.

"ISIL are beheading aid workers, burying children and women alive and planning terrorist attacks on Britain," he said.

"I voted to support Britain's involvement in air strikes in Iraq in partnership with the US and many countries in the Middle East. This military effort is in tandem with diplomatic and aid work by the United Kingdom and others and will have to continue for some time.

"In my view we must engage with this threat to our country and standing by on the sidelines is not an option."