British MP: UK should take in more Syrian refugees

Theresa May has been urged to meet the Government's pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees two years early in 2018 and then offer more help to those fleeing the war. the Daily Mail reported on Sunday.

Labour's refugee taskforce chair Yvette Cooper said the Prime Minister should use next week's United Nations General Assembly summit to demonstrate British leadership on tackling the refugee crisis.

She should seek to gain support from international leaders in creating safe routes for those fleeing war and persecution and build on the UK's own commitments, Ms Cooper said.

A first step would be to meet the pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees early because places for all of them have now been secured from local authorities.

The former cabinet minister also urged the PM to resettle 500 lone child refugees before Christmas and to ensure that no child is left alone in Calais's "Jungle" camp during the festive season.

Ms Cooper said it was "shameful" that the Government has not resettled a single unaccompanied child refugee currently in Italy, France or Greece despite committing to do so when agreeing to the so-called "Dubs amendment" in May.

Source: MENA