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-scotland-scotland-politics-34190524

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
SNP leads refugee debate in Commons SNP's Angus Robertson tells Commons debate 'act quickly to help refugees'
(about 1 hour later)
The SNP is leading a further House of Commons debate on Britain's response to the refugee crisis in Europe. The SNP's Westminster leader has told MPs that the government needs to accommodate refugees from the Syrian conflict "as quickly as possible".
They have the backing of Labour's front bench as they press a cross-party motion condemning the UK government's failure to provide more support. Angus Robertson made the plea at the start of a House of Commons debate.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said Prime Minister David Cameron's leadership had been "inadequate". The UK government said 20,000 refugees would be helped over the next five years.
Labour's Ian Murray said opposition parties would speak with one voice on the refugee crisis. International Development Secretary Justine Greening told MPs that since "day one" Britain had been at the forefront of responses to the crisis.
It is the second debate in two days, but this one will place Tory ministers under more pressure, with the opposition parties united and the likelihood of a vote at the end. She also called on other countries to step-up their efforts in supporting longer-term UN work to deal with crises such as that seen in Syria.
The motion is signed by senior SNP and Labour frontbenchers as well as the leaders of the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP. 'Kindness of strangers'
Increasing support Leading the chamber debate, Mr Robertson said: "My mail bag has been crammed-packed with people of good will, firstly calling for the government to do more and secondly giving concrete offers of help and assistance."
It recognises the £1bn in humanitarian aid provided by Britain to help those in UN camps in Syria, and the commitment to accept 20,000 refugees from within those camps over the next five years. He added: "These offers of help are being made domestically and internationally.
But, it also calls for a report in a month's time on how to increase that figure and more help for refugees who have already made it to Europe. "The government should go away and work with the English local government association, the Scottish government, Welsh government, the authorities in Northern Ireland, with churches and others to accommodate as quickly as possible - this is a life or death issue and we should get on with it."
Ahead of the debate, Mr Robertson said: "It is great to have a cross-party effort for increasing support for refugees who are in such a position of total extremity. This is the second debate on the issue in the past two days.
"The message to the prime minister and his government colleagues is clear, the UK must do more to support those affected by this horrendous crisis." The SNP motion condemning the UK government's failure to provide more support had been given the backing of Labour's front bench, as well as the leaders of the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP.
He added: "The motion and debate will hopefully persuade the UK government to go beyond the announcements already made, including increasing the number of refugees that the UK is willing to accept." Labour's Hilary Benn said that he very much welcomed the spirit in which the SNP had sought all-party support.
The SNP MP called on Mr Cameron to show respect to the thousands of people affected by the crisis by coming to the chamber and taking part in the debate. He added: "It is right that the House is debating how Britain should respond to this crisis - it has been described as the largest movement of refugees since the end of the second world war.
Labour's shadow Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray MP, said: "The government's response to the refugee crisis has not gone far enough. "But what is the reality? The reality is, it is mothers and fathers and children, brothers and sisters forced by bloody conflict to leave their homes. Their schools have been destroyed their relatives have been killed.
"The debate today gives us another opportunity, following Labour's emergency debate yesterday, to push the government to take further action to help refugees fleeing from war and persecution. "They flee from the land from which they were born to seek help from the kindness of strangers.
"The opposition in the House of Commons will speak with one voice on the refugee crisis, and Labour will support the SNP's motion." "Everything they have and knew has been destroyed. They see no hope, no future and no life. And deep down every single one of us in this chamber today understands because it is exactly what we would do if those we loved were confronted by the same horror."