Angela Watkinson and Andrew Rosindell were amongst 294 MPs who voted to reject a plan for Britain to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who has travelled from Europe.
The Government voted against a cross-party amendment to the Immigration Bill by 294 votes to 276, with Labour MPs shouting ‘Shame!’ as the result was confirmed.
Photo – James Gordon from Los Angeles, California, USA
Suggestions that accepting the plan, proposed by Lord Dubs (himself a former Second World War child refugee), would create a ‘pull factor’, encouraging more people traffickers to send children on a dangerous journey across Europe, has received objection from Save the Children and other charities.
Kirsty McNeill, Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children, said: “Today’s narrow vote by MPs not to offer sanctuary to 3,000 lone refugee children who are already in Europe is deeply disappointing.
“Tonight, across Europe, thousands of these children are alone and frightened as they go to sleep on roadsides, in police cells and in informal camps. Some are as young as ten and many of them have fled war and persecution to seek refuge in Europe – they need our help.
“This problem isn’t going away, it is getting worse. The government has not yet responded to the groundswell of public support and MPs of all parties who have called for the UK to offer safety to lone children in Europe.
“As this legislation returns to the House of Lords, Parliament still has a chance to live up to Britain’s proud history of reaching out a hand to the most vulnerable children who need our help.”
Full list of MPs accessible on the Guardian website