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| Syrians fleeing to the UK are illegal immigrants not refugees, says MEP Janice Atkinson | Syrians fleeing to the UK are illegal immigrants not refugees, says MEP Janice Atkinson |
| (1 day later) | |
| Syrians fleeing the country’s civil war for the UK are illegal immigrants not refugees, a former Ukip MEP has said. | Syrians fleeing the country’s civil war for the UK are illegal immigrants not refugees, a former Ukip MEP has said. |
| Janice Atkinson, who was expelled from the eurosceptic party over an expenses claim by her staff, appeared on stage with far-right French leader Marine Le Pen in Strasbourg. | |
| “Despite what the human rights industry and the massed ranks of taxpayer-funded charities and lobby-groups repeat, this is not a refugee crisis but a massive crisis of illegal immigration which must be resisted for what it is,” the British MEP said. | “Despite what the human rights industry and the massed ranks of taxpayer-funded charities and lobby-groups repeat, this is not a refugee crisis but a massive crisis of illegal immigration which must be resisted for what it is,” the British MEP said. |
| “A man who leaves Syria may be a refugee at the start of the journey. When he is illegally living in Calais and illegally attempting to enter Britain, he is an economic migrant and an illegal immigrant.” | “A man who leaves Syria may be a refugee at the start of the journey. When he is illegally living in Calais and illegally attempting to enter Britain, he is an economic migrant and an illegal immigrant.” |
| Ms Atkinson now sits as an independent MEP in the far-right European Parliament group Europe of Nations and Freedom. | Ms Atkinson now sits as an independent MEP in the far-right European Parliament group Europe of Nations and Freedom. |
| The ENF group includes France’s Front National, Italy’s Northern League, and the Austrian Freedom Party. | The ENF group includes France’s Front National, Italy’s Northern League, and the Austrian Freedom Party. |
| Ms Atkinson said her views on immigration had not changed since she was a Ukip MEP. | Ms Atkinson said her views on immigration had not changed since she was a Ukip MEP. |
| She made the comments ahead of a speech by European Commission president Jean-Claude Junker, who announced a new refugee quota plan. | She made the comments ahead of a speech by European Commission president Jean-Claude Junker, who announced a new refugee quota plan. |
| Under the proposal, 120,000 refugees would be distributed among EU nations with binding requirements for each country. | Under the proposal, 120,000 refugees would be distributed among EU nations with binding requirements for each country. |
| “It is true that Europe cannot house all the misery in the world. But we have to put it into perspective,” he said. | “It is true that Europe cannot house all the misery in the world. But we have to put it into perspective,” he said. |
| “This still represents just 0.11 per cent of the EU population. In Lebanon refugees represent 25 per cent of the population, which has just a fifth of the wealth of the EU. Who are we to never make such comparisons?” | “This still represents just 0.11 per cent of the EU population. In Lebanon refugees represent 25 per cent of the population, which has just a fifth of the wealth of the EU. Who are we to never make such comparisons?” |
| Countries refusing to take refugees could face financial penalties from the European Union. | Countries refusing to take refugees could face financial penalties from the European Union. |
| Yesterday Conservative MP Adam Holloway branded European countries, including Germany, "bonkers" for accepting large numbers of refugees. | Yesterday Conservative MP Adam Holloway branded European countries, including Germany, "bonkers" for accepting large numbers of refugees. |
| This item has been amended to make clear that the expenses claim over which Ms Atkinson was expelled from Ukip, was made by a member of her staff, not her. We are glad to clarify matters. 10/9/15 |