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| Child refugee fight has caught public's imagination, says peer | Child refugee fight has caught public's imagination, says peer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Lord Alf Dubs, the Labour peer leading the charge to urge the government to do more to help child refugees stranded in Europe, says he is determined to continue the fight because it has “caught the public’s imagination”. | Lord Alf Dubs, the Labour peer leading the charge to urge the government to do more to help child refugees stranded in Europe, says he is determined to continue the fight because it has “caught the public’s imagination”. |
| Dubs, who was brought to Britain from Czechoslovakia as part of the government-backed Kindertransport scheme before the outbreak of the second world war, tabled an amendment to the government’s immigration bill in the Lords, which would have forced the government to accept 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees. | Dubs, who was brought to Britain from Czechoslovakia as part of the government-backed Kindertransport scheme before the outbreak of the second world war, tabled an amendment to the government’s immigration bill in the Lords, which would have forced the government to accept 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees. |
| His proposal, which emerged from Labour’s refugee taskforce, chaired by former minister Yvette Cooper, was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons on Monday night but Dubs has now tabled an alternative proposal, which will be debated in the Lords on Tuesday. | His proposal, which emerged from Labour’s refugee taskforce, chaired by former minister Yvette Cooper, was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons on Monday night but Dubs has now tabled an alternative proposal, which will be debated in the Lords on Tuesday. |
| Dubs told the Guardian he had received many messages of support from well-wishers concerned about the plight of up to 95,000 children who are thought to have reached Europe without their families after fleeing Syria and other war zones in the Middle East. | Dubs told the Guardian he had received many messages of support from well-wishers concerned about the plight of up to 95,000 children who are thought to have reached Europe without their families after fleeing Syria and other war zones in the Middle East. |
| “I’m now getting so many messages from people I don’t even know, saying how much they want this to succeed,” he said. “It’s really struck a chord: it’s caught the public’s imagination that as a country we can do something for these children.” | “I’m now getting so many messages from people I don’t even know, saying how much they want this to succeed,” he said. “It’s really struck a chord: it’s caught the public’s imagination that as a country we can do something for these children.” |
| The government invoked financial privilege to prevent the proposal being bounced back to the Commons unchanged because MPs take precedence on spending matters; but the new amendment does not mention a specific number of refugees, instead saying it “shall be determined by the government in consultation with local authorities”. | The government invoked financial privilege to prevent the proposal being bounced back to the Commons unchanged because MPs take precedence on spending matters; but the new amendment does not mention a specific number of refugees, instead saying it “shall be determined by the government in consultation with local authorities”. |
| The government argues that it is already helping children within the refugee camps in the Middle East who have fled the war in Syria and is concerned that by bringing unaccompanied children into Britain, it could create a “pull factor”, encouraging more to come. | The government argues that it is already helping children within the refugee camps in the Middle East who have fled the war in Syria and is concerned that by bringing unaccompanied children into Britain, it could create a “pull factor”, encouraging more to come. |
| On Tuesday David Cameron’s official spokeswoman did not comment on how the Government will respond to Dubs’s new amendment, but said the prime minister was concerned not to create incentives for refugees to put themselves and their children at risk. | |
| She told a Westminster media briefing: “What we have looked at very carefully here is how do we best protect vulnerable people and how can we best help refugees, how do we not fuel a system that is incentivising people to be exploited by trafficking gangs and make perilous journeys. | |
| “There have been UNHCR experts who have talked about the concerns that if you pursue an approach which offers resettlement for unaccompanied children in Europe, you could see families seeking to separate off from their children in order to create new ways of getting to Europe. That’s not something we want to see. | |
| “Refugees have already been through traumatic times. We don’t want to see them putting lives further at risk. That’s why we are taking an approach focusing on resettlement from the region, led by the experts.” | |
| James Brokenshire, a Home Office minister, said in Monday night’s debate that the government could not support a policy that would “inadvertently create a situation in which families see an advantage in sending children alone, ahead and in the hands of traffickers, putting their lives at risk by attempting treacherous sea crossings to Europe which would be the worst of all outcomes”. | James Brokenshire, a Home Office minister, said in Monday night’s debate that the government could not support a policy that would “inadvertently create a situation in which families see an advantage in sending children alone, ahead and in the hands of traffickers, putting their lives at risk by attempting treacherous sea crossings to Europe which would be the worst of all outcomes”. |
| But Dubs said that was a “squalid” argument. He also rejected the idea that once they have reached the shores of Europe, unaccompanied children are safe. | But Dubs said that was a “squalid” argument. He also rejected the idea that once they have reached the shores of Europe, unaccompanied children are safe. |
| “Whether they’re in Greece, in Macedonia, in Italy, or in Calais and Dunkirk, these children are being left to their own devices at best and at worst they’re in trouble,” he said. He blamed David Cameron for the government’s intransigence, saying: “I think the prime minister is taking the lead on this.” | “Whether they’re in Greece, in Macedonia, in Italy, or in Calais and Dunkirk, these children are being left to their own devices at best and at worst they’re in trouble,” he said. He blamed David Cameron for the government’s intransigence, saying: “I think the prime minister is taking the lead on this.” |
| The shadow immigration minister, Keir Starmer, also promised on Tuesday morning that the fight would go on to force the UK to do more. | The shadow immigration minister, Keir Starmer, also promised on Tuesday morning that the fight would go on to force the UK to do more. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Starmer said: “We can’t turn our backs on these vulnerable children in Europe, and history will judge us for that.” He added: “It’s not over: the fight will go on.” | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Starmer said: “We can’t turn our backs on these vulnerable children in Europe, and history will judge us for that.” He added: “It’s not over: the fight will go on.” |
| He also reacted angrily to the suggestion that by helping children who were already in mainland Europe, the government would encourage others to make the risky journey. | He also reacted angrily to the suggestion that by helping children who were already in mainland Europe, the government would encourage others to make the risky journey. |
| “What it boils down to is to say we must abandon these children to their fate, lest if we do anything, others may follow in their footsteps. I am not prepared to take that position.” | “What it boils down to is to say we must abandon these children to their fate, lest if we do anything, others may follow in their footsteps. I am not prepared to take that position.” |
| MPs voted against the proposals by 294 to 276 on Monday after the Home Office persuaded most potential Tory rebels that it was doing enough to help child refugees in Syria and neighbouring countries. The amendment was backed by Labour, the Scottish National party and the Liberal Democrats. | MPs voted against the proposals by 294 to 276 on Monday after the Home Office persuaded most potential Tory rebels that it was doing enough to help child refugees in Syria and neighbouring countries. The amendment was backed by Labour, the Scottish National party and the Liberal Democrats. |
| Only a handful of Conservative MPs voted in favour of accepting the child refugees. One of them, Tania Mathias, said accepting children at risk of harm in Europe was the “right thing to do”. | Only a handful of Conservative MPs voted in favour of accepting the child refugees. One of them, Tania Mathias, said accepting children at risk of harm in Europe was the “right thing to do”. |
| Related: Were you a Kindertransport child? | |
| Cooper had urged Conservative MPs to vote for the Dubs proposal. After the debate, she said: “It is deeply disappointing that the government has rejected the Dubs amendment – albeit with a reduced majority. Thousands of children are sleeping rough in Europe tonight, vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and Britain should not be turning its back. Alf Dubs will keep pressing this issue in the Lords and we must do our bit to help.” | Cooper had urged Conservative MPs to vote for the Dubs proposal. After the debate, she said: “It is deeply disappointing that the government has rejected the Dubs amendment – albeit with a reduced majority. Thousands of children are sleeping rough in Europe tonight, vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and Britain should not be turning its back. Alf Dubs will keep pressing this issue in the Lords and we must do our bit to help.” |
| One teenage refugee from Syria, who met Cooper and Dubs for an event outside parliament, said the government was missing the point when it argued that child refugees were better helped in the region. | One teenage refugee from Syria, who met Cooper and Dubs for an event outside parliament, said the government was missing the point when it argued that child refugees were better helped in the region. |
| The minor, who cannot be named, travelled through 17 countries from Syria before reaching Calais and then the UK. Speaking through an interpreter, he said: “Most of the children in the camps do have their families and parents with them but those stranded around Europe and in Calais are very vulnerable because other people could do something to them. That is the fundamental difference between the children in Europe and those in the camps.” | The minor, who cannot be named, travelled through 17 countries from Syria before reaching Calais and then the UK. Speaking through an interpreter, he said: “Most of the children in the camps do have their families and parents with them but those stranded around Europe and in Calais are very vulnerable because other people could do something to them. That is the fundamental difference between the children in Europe and those in the camps.” |
| At least 95,000 unaccompanied child refugees are estimated to have applied for asylum in Europe last year. | At least 95,000 unaccompanied child refugees are estimated to have applied for asylum in Europe last year. |
| Europol, the EU’s criminal intelligence agency, estimated in January that 10,000 children had gone missing after arriving in Europe, warning that many had been taken by criminal gangs. | Europol, the EU’s criminal intelligence agency, estimated in January that 10,000 children had gone missing after arriving in Europe, warning that many had been taken by criminal gangs. |