UK government votes against taking 3,000 child refugees
LONDON -- A campaign for Britain to accept 3,000 child refugees stuck in Europe has failed after Conservative Party members of parliament voted against the plan in the House of Commons.
The Home Office convinced potential Conservative rebels that the government was already doing enough to help child refugees in Syria and that the plan would encourage more asylum-seekers to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.
You May Also Like
The bill was introduced in the House of Lords by Czech-born Labour peer Alf Dubs, who as a child was brought to the UK from Nazi Germany ahead of World War II as part of the government-backed Kindertransport.
Before the debate, Dubs told the Guardian: “My message to Conservative MPs is that in 1938-39, Britain took 10,000 child refugees from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. We were in the lead then and we could take an important step now. The least we can do is say this is a small number and they should be welcome here.”
Several Twitter users and politicians picked up the parallels between Jewish and Syrian refugees to express their outrage at the failed proposal:
{cardId: 28770}This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
