Labour questions Tory MP’s visit to Syrian president

Brooks Newmark, the Conservative MP for Braintree in Essex, held talks on Monday with the controversial leader whose brutal repression of protests has been condemned by the UK.

The Syrian state news agency Sana later reported that the pair had discussed “the recent events taking place in Syria and the advanced steps achieved in the comprehensive reform programme”.

Anti-war US Congressman Dennis Kucinich was also in Damascus for talks.

Sana reported that: “For their part Kucinich and Newmark expressed keenness on Syria’s security and stability as an essential pillar in the region.”

The Foreign Office said it had been informed about the visit and that it was important to use “all means to convey the message to President Assad that he must reform or step aside”.

But Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander questioned whether the trip was authorised in advance, who funded it and what exactly had been discussed.

In a letter to Foreign Secretary William Hague, he said that while it was necessary to maintain dialogue with “profoundly disagreeable” regimes, it was also vital to “speak with one voice”.

Mr Newmark’s office said he travelled to Syria in a private capacity and was not prepared at this stage to discuss the matter further.