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-politics-35395464
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Syria refugee children calls 'considered' by government | Syria refugee children calls 'considered' by government |
(35 minutes later) | |
The government is looking at calls to take in thousands of unaccompanied refugee children who have made it into Europe, a Cabinet minister says. | The government is looking at calls to take in thousands of unaccompanied refugee children who have made it into Europe, a Cabinet minister says. |
Charities have been calling on the UK to admit 3,000 child refugees as part of its response to the Syrian conflict. | Charities have been calling on the UK to admit 3,000 child refugees as part of its response to the Syrian conflict. |
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said ministers were considering "whether we can do more" for unaccompanied children. | International Development Secretary Justine Greening said ministers were considering "whether we can do more" for unaccompanied children. |
Downing Street sources say no decision has been made yet. | Downing Street sources say no decision has been made yet. |
Speaking on Sky News, Ms Greening said children "have always been at the heart of our response". | Speaking on Sky News, Ms Greening said children "have always been at the heart of our response". |
Asked about the calls for the government to consider admitting 3,000, she said: "That's what we are doing and I think that is the right thing." | Asked about the calls for the government to consider admitting 3,000, she said: "That's what we are doing and I think that is the right thing." |
Her comments come after David Cameron told the Commons earlier in January that he was considering the issue "in good faith". | |
Labour's shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said Mr Cameron's approach to the migration crisis had made Britain look "blinkered and selfish". | |
He added: "Just miles from our own doorstep, there are hundreds of refugee children in makeshift French camps living alone in abhorrent conditions. | |
"Britain can, and should, be doing more to give those kids a place of safety and I believe the vast majority of people here would support it." | |
Mr Burnham also said if Britain were to "show willing" in addressing the crisis, Mr Cameron would "probably get a better hearing from EU partners on his demands on free movement in advance of the referendum". | |
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron - who has been pushing the PM for Britain to take in unaccompanied children - told the BBC "there may be some signs" from Mr Cameron's responses in recent months that his view was "moving in that direction". | |
"His response when I first raised it with him was very negative. When I raised it with him privately, a little less negative," Mr Farron said. | |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made similar calls on Saturday on a trip to see refugees in Calais. | |
In September, the government promised to resettle 20,000 refugees from Syria over five years. | In September, the government promised to resettle 20,000 refugees from Syria over five years. |