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| Nigel Farage calls for Syrian refugees to be allowed into UK | Nigel Farage calls for Syrian refugees to be allowed into UK |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK should take in some refugees from Syria's civil war, UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has said. | The UK should take in some refugees from Syria's civil war, UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has said. |
| He told BBC News that Western countries should agree to take an allocation, but he did not specify numbers. | |
| Mr Farage, who has led opposition to allowing open immigration from Romania and Bulgaria in the new year, said refugees were "a very different thing". | Mr Farage, who has led opposition to allowing open immigration from Romania and Bulgaria in the new year, said refugees were "a very different thing". |
| The UK government is refusing to accept Syrian refugees, saying it is better to offer financial help. | The UK government is refusing to accept Syrian refugees, saying it is better to offer financial help. |
| BBC political correspondent Arif Ansari said Mr Farage's call was likely to surprise many. | BBC political correspondent Arif Ansari said Mr Farage's call was likely to surprise many. |
| Mr Farage said: "I think refugees are a very different thing to economic migration and I think this country should honour the 1951 declaration on refugee status that was agreed. | Mr Farage said: "I think refugees are a very different thing to economic migration and I think this country should honour the 1951 declaration on refugee status that was agreed. |
| "It was agreed with the UN and even through the European Court, which sadly has changed its role. | "It was agreed with the UN and even through the European Court, which sadly has changed its role. |
| "But the original ideas of defining what a refugee is were good ones and I think, actually, there is a responsibility on all of us in the free West to try and help some of those people fleeing Syria, literally in fear of their lives." | "But the original ideas of defining what a refugee is were good ones and I think, actually, there is a responsibility on all of us in the free West to try and help some of those people fleeing Syria, literally in fear of their lives." |
| 'Miserably failing' | 'Miserably failing' |
| He said it was time for "a proper debate" about "the difference between a refugee - who fears for his or her life - or somebody moving simply for economic benefit". | He said it was time for "a proper debate" about "the difference between a refugee - who fears for his or her life - or somebody moving simply for economic benefit". |
| While Mr Farage did not put a figure on the estimated nine million Syrians displaced by war who should be allowed into the UK, Labour wants to accept 400 to 500. | |
| On Saturday, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties issued a joint statement backing a UN appeal to raise £4bn to help Syrian refugees. | On Saturday, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties issued a joint statement backing a UN appeal to raise £4bn to help Syrian refugees. |
| David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg said the fate of a Syrian generation "hangs in the balance" with four million children caught up in the civil conflict. | David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg said the fate of a Syrian generation "hangs in the balance" with four million children caught up in the civil conflict. |
| The leaders said the UK would add to the £523m it had already committed and urged other nations to do the same. | The leaders said the UK would add to the £523m it had already committed and urged other nations to do the same. |
| The UK says its aid is providing support including food, medical care and relief items for people in Syria and to refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. | The UK says its aid is providing support including food, medical care and relief items for people in Syria and to refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. |
| In a report released earlier this month, Amnesty International accused European Union leaders of "miserably failing" to provide a safe haven to Syrians. | In a report released earlier this month, Amnesty International accused European Union leaders of "miserably failing" to provide a safe haven to Syrians. |
| Only 10 member states had offered to take in refugees and even then only 12,000, it complained. | Only 10 member states had offered to take in refugees and even then only 12,000, it complained. |
| Italy - like the UK - had offered no places at all, the organisation said. | Italy - like the UK - had offered no places at all, the organisation said. |
| More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the unrest began in Syria more than two years ago. | More than 100,000 people are estimated to have been killed since the unrest began in Syria more than two years ago. |