Labour MP Rushanara Ali resigned from the frontbench of the Labour party today in order to abstain from voting in favour of launching air strikes in Iraq.
She said to party leader Ed Miliband: "I am unable in conscience to support the motion." Ali resigned from her position as shadow minister for education but will continue to serve as MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.
By abstaining from the vote, she did not come out either in favour or against the air strikes.
In a statement, Ali said: "I understand the case that has been made and will not be voting against the motion. But I am unable in conscience to support the motion and I will make a deliberate abstention."
She added that she had doubts over whether there was any long-term strategy. She said: "I am not confident that this military action will be effective in the short term in just targeting the terrorists and not harming innocent civilians.
"Nor can I pretend to have any confidence that there is a credible long-term strategy to build up the capacity of the Iraqi army or that the potential impact on radicalisation in the UK has been properly thought through.
"Despite good intentions, too many mistakes have been made over the last decade and far too many people in conflict zones have had to pay a high price for misconceived actions by the UK and other countries."
Miliband has responded to her resignation, writing in a letter: "I know that you have thought long and hard about this. I respect and accept you resignation."
Sorry that @rushanaraali leaving front bench. She is a tremendous Labour MP & remains an important voice in parlt & party
Labour MP for Inverclyde Iain McKenzie has been sacked from his position as aide to the shadow defence secretary because he did not back air strikes, according to the BBC.
There were four other Scottish Labour politicians who did not vote for intervention: Anne Begg, Katy Clark, Ian Davidson, and Mark Lazraowicz.