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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/02/david-cameron-migration-crisis-will-not-be-solved-by-uk-taking-in-more-refugees
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| David Cameron: migration crisis will not be solved by UK taking in more refugees | David Cameron: migration crisis will not be solved by UK taking in more refugees |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The European migration crisis will not be solved simply by Britain taking in more refugees, David Cameron has said in response to a call from the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to take as many as 10,000. | The European migration crisis will not be solved simply by Britain taking in more refugees, David Cameron has said in response to a call from the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, to take as many as 10,000. |
| The prime minister said the best solution to the migration crisis was to bring peace and stability to the Middle East and stressed the UK had taken a number of asylum seekers from Syria. | |
| During a visit to Northamptonshire, Cameron said: “We have taken a number of genuine asylum seekers from Syrian refugee camps and we keep that under review, but we think the most important thing is to try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world. | During a visit to Northamptonshire, Cameron said: “We have taken a number of genuine asylum seekers from Syrian refugee camps and we keep that under review, but we think the most important thing is to try to bring peace and stability to that part of the world. |
| “I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees.” | “I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees.” |
| Cameron said Britain was focusing on stabilising and improving the countries where migrants and refugees come from and highlighted action the government was taking to improve security at the French port of Calais. | Cameron said Britain was focusing on stabilising and improving the countries where migrants and refugees come from and highlighted action the government was taking to improve security at the French port of Calais. |
| Related: How many refugees should Britain take? | Related: How many refugees should Britain take? |
| He said: “We are taking action right across the board, helping countries from which these people are coming, stabilising them and trying to make sure there are worthwhile jobs and stronger economies there. | He said: “We are taking action right across the board, helping countries from which these people are coming, stabilising them and trying to make sure there are worthwhile jobs and stronger economies there. |
| “We are obviously taking action at Calais and the Channel, there’s more that we need to do and we are working together with our European partners as well. These are big challenges but we will meet them.” | “We are obviously taking action at Calais and the Channel, there’s more that we need to do and we are working together with our European partners as well. These are big challenges but we will meet them.” |
| His remarks leave open the possibility the government will shift position if it comes under further pressure, including from Conservative councils, but this would require more funding from central government. | |
| The community organising group Citizens UK, the Refugee Council and council leaders – including some from Conservative councils – are pressing ahead with holding a pledging conference about taking refugees fleeing the instability in the Middle East. | |
| Cooper’s office said they were delighted that Citizens UK, which already runs a refugee resettlement programme, has agreed to take up the idea of a pledging conference. Cooper has set a target of 10,000 refugees being taken by the UK – a figure endorsed by Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary and a rival for the party leadership. | |
| Cooper had called on the home secretary, Theresa May, to convene the conference, but Cameron appeared to rule out doing more, saying the focus needed to be on securing peace in the Middle East, something that most regard as a very distant prospect. | |
| Cooper, responding to the latest pictures of drowned refugees, said on Wednesday: “When mothers are desperately trying to stop their babies from drowning when their boat has capsized, when people are being left to suffocate in the backs of lorries by evil gangs of traffickers and when children’s bodies are being washed to shore, Britain needs to act. | |
| “It is heartbreaking what is happening on our continent. We cannot keep turning our backs on this. We can – and must – do more. If every area in the UK took just 10 families, we could offer sanctuary to 10,000 refugees. Let’s not look back with shame at our inaction.” | |
| The campaigning group Avaaz has set up a petition urging local and national authorities to resettle more Syrian refugees. It has also asked for volunteers to help with advocacy and the integration of refugees in communities. “Our humanity now could help save lives, inspire change in a pitiful refugee response, and be enormously life-enriching for us”, Avaaz said. |