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Migrant crisis: Councils offering sanctuary, Cooper says Migrant crisis: Councils offering sanctuary, Cooper says
(about 3 hours later)
More than 40 local councils in the UK say they are ready to offer sanctuary to refugees fleeing war-ravaged Syria, a Labour leadership candidate has said.More than 40 local councils in the UK say they are ready to offer sanctuary to refugees fleeing war-ravaged Syria, a Labour leadership candidate has said.
Yvette Cooper said local authorities had replied within 24 hours to her request for each to accept 10 families.Yvette Cooper said local authorities had replied within 24 hours to her request for each to accept 10 families.
Councils have shown a "rising sense of moral purpose", the shadow home secretary added.Councils have shown a "rising sense of moral purpose", the shadow home secretary added.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday that the UK would take in "thousands" more Syrian refugees.Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday that the UK would take in "thousands" more Syrian refugees.
A exact figure on how many is yet to be decided, but the prime minister made it clear the extra refugees would come from camps bordering Syria, and not from among those already in Europe. An exact figure on how many is yet to be decided, but the prime minister made it clear the extra refugees would come from camps bordering Syria, and not from among those already in Europe.
In other developments:In other developments:
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 on 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 on Turkish beach.
On Friday, during a visit to Portugal and Spain, Mr Cameron said the UK would act with "our head and our heart" on a major expansion of the programme to resettle vulnerable refugees from the camps bordering Syria.On Friday, during a visit to Portugal and Spain, Mr Cameron said the UK would act with "our head and our heart" on a major expansion of the programme to resettle vulnerable refugees from the camps bordering Syria.
He said the scheme would avoid the need for the refugees to make hazardous attempts to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, which has seen thousands perish in recent months.He said the scheme would avoid the need for the refugees to make hazardous attempts to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, which has seen thousands perish in recent months.
And Ms Cooper said it was up to the government to work with local authorities to ensure as many people as possible were helped.And Ms Cooper said it was up to the government to work with local authorities to ensure as many people as possible were helped.
She said: "There is a real determination and rising sense of moral purpose across Britain to help desperate families. But now the prime minister needs to match it."She said: "There is a real determination and rising sense of moral purpose across Britain to help desperate families. But now the prime minister needs to match it."
Ms Cooper, who is standing for Labour leadership alongside Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall, also reiterated her plea for the UK to take in 10,000 Syrians.Ms Cooper, who is standing for Labour leadership alongside Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall, also reiterated her plea for the UK to take in 10,000 Syrians.
Meanwhile, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has dismissed the prospect of Britain joining a proposed EU plan to redistribute the 160,000 migrants already in Europe, arguing that it "simply fuels the people smuggling business".Meanwhile, International Development Secretary Justine Greening has dismissed the prospect of Britain joining a proposed EU plan to redistribute the 160,000 migrants already in Europe, arguing that it "simply fuels the people smuggling business".
"It's much smarter and safer to help them directly relocate from refugee camps," she added."It's much smarter and safer to help them directly relocate from refugee camps," she added.
Over the past four years nearly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the UK, Downing Street sources told the BBC.Over the past four years nearly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the UK, Downing Street sources told the BBC.
However, under the government's official relocation program, which began early last year, 216 Syrian refugees have been allowed sanctuary in the UK.However, under the government's official relocation program, which began early last year, 216 Syrian refugees have been allowed sanctuary in the UK.