Following the commons' decision to back airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq, Kent MPs have explained how they chose to vote.

With the three main parties all supporting intervention against IS militants, the motion was passed by 524 votes to 43.

One of the dissenting voices was Conservative MP for Gravesham Adam Holloway.

An ex-captain in the Grenadier Guards, Mr Holloway said IS was "a political, not military problem."

He explained: "It is for the people in those countries, and that region, to deal with, and for us to support and encourage and enable, but to get involved again on the ground really is most unwise.

Mr Holloway said he would like to see non-military interventions in support of the Sunni population in Iraqi and Syria, helping them gain a better deal from the Shia-led Iraqi government.

Mark Reckless, MP for Rochester and Strood, also voted against military action, arguing limited airstrikes alone will simply not work.

"Our capabilities are so minimal now compared to the US that it's hard to see why our political leaders are getting quite so excited about it.

"It goes to show the depth of the military spending cuts over the last few years.

"Before we attacked Libya I said to the Prime Minister 'shouldn't we have an aircraft carrier?' He just glared at me."

"We have six aging tornadoes and a refuelling plane. It may be some small help but I doubt we have the intelligence on the ground to target the IS leaders."

MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti voted in favour of air strikes, and said "Muslims around the world have made it clear that IS has nothing to do with Islam; it is an evil organisation."

He also asked the Prime Minister if the UK had sought the support of the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which represents Muslim states, to see whether many more of those Islamic countries will be joining this international coalition.

Also voting in favour of airstrikes was Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, who opposed intervention in Syria earlier this year.

In a blog on her website, she explained her decision to back the government.

She said: "IS are barbaric and are a threat to the security of this country and its citizens.

"I cannot bear to read or hear about the brutality of these extremists but their actions, such as beheading, gauging of eyes, using rape as a weapon are despicable and belong in the dark ages."

Ms Crouch said many constituents she had spoken to also backed military action.