The appalling crackdown that we witnessed in Hama and other Syrian cities on 30 and 31 July only erode the regime's legitimacy and increase resentment. In the absence of an end to the senseless violence and a genuine process of political reform, we will continue to pursue further EU sanctions.

Hague rose through the ranks of John Major's government and entered the Cabinet in 1995 as the Secretary of State for Wales. In Parliament he has represented the constituency of Richmond (Yorks) since 1989. After David Cameron was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 2005 Hague returned to front line politics as shadow foreign secretary.