THIS is an open letter to Mark Harper.

I am writing to ask you to oppose any bombing or military escalation in Syria.

The Prime Minister is trying to win support for such a vote in Parliament but such military intervention would be completely wrong and counter-productive.

The disastrous situation in Syria is the result of a civil war in which a number of different states and forces are involved. Millions have been displaced and made refugees.

David Cameron is trying to use the refugee crisis as a pretext for more war but wars that previously involved the British government have been instrumental in helping to destabilise the Middle East and parts of South Asia and Africa.

These regions are now producing refugees on a massive scale because of the legacy of war. 

In 2011 the government launched the bombing of Libya. The country is today wracked by civil war and is the source of both terrorism and large numbers of refugees. 

The fact that Russia is now militarily involved in Syria makes any Western escalation even more perilous.

Two years ago, Cameron lost a House of Commons vote to bomb Syria.

Then he wanted to bomb Assad’s forces but today he wants to bomb ISIS.

The truth is that further bombing will do nothing to help the people of Syria or to bring peace.

ISIS is a product of war, and has been helped to grow by Western allies such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

It is important that we learn from history.

It is now widely accepted that Western interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have had disastrous consequences. There is no reason to think that Syria will be any different.

As my MP I ask you to stand against military escalation.

– John Muir, Newnham.