This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34148913
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Migrant crisis: Britain set to accept 'thousands' more refugees | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron is expected to commit later to allow "thousands" more Syrian refugees to resettle in the UK. | |
| The extra refugees are expected to come from UN camps bordering Syria, and not from among people already in Europe. | The extra refugees are expected to come from UN camps bordering Syria, and not from among people already in Europe. |
| The PM has previously said accepting more people was not the simple answer to the worsening humanitarian crisis. | |
| BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Downing Street had found itself behind the curve amid public and media reaction to the UK's position. | |
| The PM, who is currently in Lisbon for talks with his Portuguese counterpart, is expected to set out more details later before travelling to Madrid for discussions with the Spanish prime minister. | |
| 'Deeply moved' | 'Deeply moved' |
| Calls for the UK to take in more refugees have intensified after the publication of a picture of the body of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up a Turkish beach. | Calls for the UK to take in more refugees have intensified after the publication of a picture of the body of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up a Turkish beach. |
| Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, the boy's aunt, Tima Kurdi, said his and his brother's death should be "a wake-up call for the whole world". | Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, the boy's aunt, Tima Kurdi, said his and his brother's death should be "a wake-up call for the whole world". |
| Mr Cameron said on Thursday that as a father he felt "deeply moved" by the image, but he has argued that taking on more people was not the simple answer. | Mr Cameron said on Thursday that as a father he felt "deeply moved" by the image, but he has argued that taking on more people was not the simple answer. |
| But it now appears that his stance is shifting amid pressure from public and political figures, including: | But it now appears that his stance is shifting amid pressure from public and political figures, including: |
| Meanwhile, a stand-off between police and migrants on a train in Hungary is continuing into a second day. | Meanwhile, a stand-off between police and migrants on a train in Hungary is continuing into a second day. |
| On Thursday, police let the migrants board the train in Budapest but then tried to force them off at a refugee camp to the west of the capital. | On Thursday, police let the migrants board the train in Budapest but then tried to force them off at a refugee camp to the west of the capital. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By deputy political editor James Landale | By deputy political editor James Landale |
| The prime minister isn't changing his argument. | The prime minister isn't changing his argument. |
| He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and encouraging people traffickers. | He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and encouraging people traffickers. |
| But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more. | But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more. |
| While on a visit to Portugal and Spain to discuss his planned EU reforms, Mr Cameron is expected to say that he is looking at extending existing British and UN schemes that have so far brought a few hundred of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to the UK. | While on a visit to Portugal and Spain to discuss his planned EU reforms, Mr Cameron is expected to say that he is looking at extending existing British and UN schemes that have so far brought a few hundred of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to the UK. |
| No targets have been agreed and none is likely to be set today - although Mr Cameron has talked of taking thousands more - but he is unlikely to satisfy his many critics who want Britain to take in tens of thousands of refugees and who have been outraged by his reluctance to act. | No targets have been agreed and none is likely to be set today - although Mr Cameron has talked of taking thousands more - but he is unlikely to satisfy his many critics who want Britain to take in tens of thousands of refugees and who have been outraged by his reluctance to act. |
| Almost 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the last four years and the UK has accepted 216 Syrian refugees under a scheme to relocate the most vulnerable begun in January 2014. | Almost 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the last four years and the UK has accepted 216 Syrian refugees under a scheme to relocate the most vulnerable begun in January 2014. |
| It is expected that this relocation scheme will be extended to see thousands more refugees brought directly to the UK from camps in Syria and neighbouring countries. | It is expected that this relocation scheme will be extended to see thousands more refugees brought directly to the UK from camps in Syria and neighbouring countries. |
| The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said the prime minister would continue to make the argument that the problem also needs to be tackled at source. | The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said the prime minister would continue to make the argument that the problem also needs to be tackled at source. |
| Among those to add his voice to calls for the UK to do more is former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who told BBC Newsnight that the UK needed to make "a very clear and conspicuous humanitarian gesture". | Among those to add his voice to calls for the UK to do more is former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who told BBC Newsnight that the UK needed to make "a very clear and conspicuous humanitarian gesture". |
| "I think 10,000 is a figure that we could handle," he said. | "I think 10,000 is a figure that we could handle," he said. |
| "It's a figure to which Britain would respond - the churches, the religious groups, the charities, would all join in, local civic groups. | "It's a figure to which Britain would respond - the churches, the religious groups, the charities, would all join in, local civic groups. |
| But UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned the European Union was sending a message that anybody who wants to can come to Europe which, he said, would compound the crisis by encouraging more people to make the journey. | But UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned the European Union was sending a message that anybody who wants to can come to Europe which, he said, would compound the crisis by encouraging more people to make the journey. |
| "If we want to stop images like that picture of that three-year-old boy being taken out of the sea then we have to stop the boats from coming. That is absolutely vital," he told LBC radio. | "If we want to stop images like that picture of that three-year-old boy being taken out of the sea then we have to stop the boats from coming. That is absolutely vital," he told LBC radio. |
| 'Showing leadership' | 'Showing leadership' |
| Development charity Oxfam welcomed indications of a shift in UK government policy. | Development charity Oxfam welcomed indications of a shift in UK government policy. |
| Chief executive Mark Goldring said: "Offering to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees would bring the UK in line with other European countries who have already shown leadership in offering a haven to vulnerable refugees." | Chief executive Mark Goldring said: "Offering to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees would bring the UK in line with other European countries who have already shown leadership in offering a haven to vulnerable refugees." |
| Former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the UK should respond "in a positive way" to the crisis "and that must run into thousands of people being admitted to this country". | Former Conservative foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the UK should respond "in a positive way" to the crisis "and that must run into thousands of people being admitted to this country". |
| But he added that he had concerns, for Britain and any country taking people in, over "what signal that will send to those who are not in Europe at the moment". | But he added that he had concerns, for Britain and any country taking people in, over "what signal that will send to those who are not in Europe at the moment". |
| He also said the obligation to help refugees should be considered by countries outside of Europe, pointing out that "very large numbers" went to areas such as the United States, Canada, South America and Australia following World War Two. | He also said the obligation to help refugees should be considered by countries outside of Europe, pointing out that "very large numbers" went to areas such as the United States, Canada, South America and Australia following World War Two. |
| What is your reaction to this? Are you a migrant already in the UK? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. | What is your reaction to this? Are you a migrant already in the UK? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |