UKIP MEP Tim Aker has called MP Jackie Doyle-Price "mad" for supporting air strikes against Syria.

The Thurrock councillor's comments came after Jackie Doyle-Price revealed this morning why she would be voting for air strikes in Syria.

Mr Aker said 'only chaos' had come from bombing other Middle Eastern countries, and asked if the MP truly wanted to create a new 'failed state' in Syria.

Mr Aker said: "Einstein said madness is doing the same thing over and over again whilst expecting a different outcome. By that definition our MP is mad to support bombing Syria without a global coalition or a concrete plan for after.

"Look at the chaos caused by bombing Libya. We bombed it without a plan and now it is a failed state riddled with people smugglers, Islamists and gangsters.

"Look at the disaster of every single foreign intervention in the Middle East in the past 15 years. Who in their right mind would want to repeat it in Syria?

"Let's remember if the PM had his way last year, the UK would have ended up bombing Assad and indirectly helping Islamic State!"

This morning, Ms Doyle Price wrote why she would be voting for the bombing of Syria, and spoke of her 'real regret' that the House of Commons did not endorse military action in Syria two years ago.

In a statement, she said: "There is no doubt that keeping our country safe is becoming more challenging in the face of fundamentalists who care nothing for humanity.

"The more notorious, the more shocking, the more they glorify in their exploits. One need only recall the perpetrators of the evil attack on Lee Rigby.

"It is of real regret to me that two years ago the House of Commons failed to endorse military action in Syria.

"The fact that the West failed to intervene then provided the conditions for ISIL to grow and prosper, aided and abetted by people leaving this country to join them."

Mr Aker added in his statement: "Jackie Doyle Price votes for Tory defence cuts, supports increases in foreign aid and a pitifully low police budget.

"Despite these being irresponsible policies, what sort of rationale is there to support an intervention that will make the situation worse in the Middle East, make us less safe at home and unprepared to deal with the fallout afterwards?"