- Thursday 23 January 2014
- My Account
- Logout
- Register
- Login
David Cameron set for U-turn over UK sanctuary for most vulnerable Syria refugees following plea by aid agencies

Political Editor
Thursday 23 January 2014
David Cameron opened the door yesterday for Britain to give sanctuary to some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees trapped in appalling conditions in neighbouring countries.
But the Prime Minister is now under intense pressure to go further by accepting 500 refugees under a United Nations resettlement programme. Last night Nick Clegg broke ranks with Mr Cameron by making public his private lobbying for a change of heart by the Government, which has refused to join the 18 western countries who have signed up to the UN plan.
The Deputy Prime Minister agrees with Labour that Britain should admit about 500 Syrians. He hopes to persuade Mr Cameron to change his mind before Labour forces a Commons vote on the issue next Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s partial retreat came after Labour raised in the Commons the letter signed by 25 aid agencies and refugee groups, published in The Independent on Saturday, calling on the Government to think again. Mr Clegg said: “I am full of admiration for the work The Independent has done in repeatedly raising awareness of this issue on its front page.”
Aides revealed that the Liberal Democrat leader had been “arguing for weeks” inside the Government for the UK to back the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which wants western nations to accept 30,000 of the 2.3m Syrians who have fled their country.
A source close to Mr Clegg said: “We are one of the most open-hearted countries in the world and Nick believes we have a moral responsibility to help. He not only believes the moral case for doing this is overwhelming, he also thinks the political case for action is unarguable as well.”
The source added: “The Coalition Government has been the most generous in the world when it comes to helping with the humanitarian crisis in Syria and it would be completely self-defeating to allow ourselves to be painted as the least generous. The Lib Dems will continue to make the case around the Cabinet table. We have yet to gain the agreement of our Conservative colleagues but we remain hopeful that we will.”
Syria peace talks: John Kerry leads calls for removal of President Bashar al-Assad
When Ed Miliband raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cameron told MPs: “Where there are extreme hardship cases, I think we should look at this again.” He added: “If there are very difficult cases of people who don’t belong in refugee camps, who have either been disabled by these dreadful attacks, or are in very difficult circumstances, I am happy for us to look at that argument.”
Mr Cameron said one unnamed child refugee was already been treated in a British hospital. But Downing Street was unable to say how many Syrians might be helped by his more flexible approach. Last night it denied the Prime Minister had announced a change of policy. His official spokesman said: “What we are doing is listening to the arguments about how we can help the most vulnerable people and we are going to do that and then set out how we propose to do that. We haven't taken final decisions around the best way and the most effective way of doing that.“
Mr Miliband was “somewhat encouraged” by Mr Cameron’s move, saying the Government was “gradually inching forward”.
But Labour sources said it was “shameful” that the UK would still not join the UN resettlement programme. Yvette Cooper, the shadow Home Secretary, said: “It is very disappointing that the Prime Minister was so resistant to signing up. Nearly every other European nation, the United States and Australia are helping out. It is not a replacement for aid, it is additional help for the most vulnerable victims of war. There is cross-party support for doing more. We will hold a debate on this next week to show the Government the strength of feeling and hope MPs from all parties will join us.”
Earlier Jim Murphy, the shadow International Development Secretary, quoted from the aid and refugee groups’ letter, which asked: “How can we call on Syria’s neighbours to keep their borders open to refugees if we keep our own under lock and key?”
Mark Pritchard, one of several Tory MPs pressing for a full U-turn, said: “I hope a cross party consensus can guide the UK's humanitarian response and the refugee issue doesn't become a party political issue. The Government does appear to be softening its policy, which is welcome.”
Mr Cameron the Commons: “I don’t believe you can solve a refugee crisis of this scale — when you’ve got almost half the 9m population of Syria either displaced or at risk of displacement –with a quota system where countries are taking a few hundred refugees.”
He accused some EU countries of accepting a small number of refugees rather than providing humanitarian aid. “I think we are fulfilling our moral obligations to the people of Syria,” he said. “The fact that the Finns, the French or the Swedes are going to take a few hundred people, that is not fulfilling your obligations.”
Anna Musgrave, advocacy officer at the Refugee Council, welcomed Mr Cameron’s move. “For every person rescued from the region, a resettlement place would be life changing,” she said. Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International, said: “It’s a huge relief that the Prime Minister is now prepared to revisit this issue and we must move swiftly to offer lifesaving protection.”






Travel Shop

-
Twiggy Garcia, who attempted citizen's arrest on Tony Blair awarded over £2000
-
Unearthed: Secrets of the devastation caused by Grand Slam, the largest WWII bomb ever tested in the UK
-
George Stinney: After 70 years, justice in sight for boy America sent to electric chair
-
Mystery of the Lyubov Orlova: Ghost ship full of cannibal rats ‘could be heading for Britain’
-
Jennifer Lawrence left seething after presenter spoils Homeland ending: ‘I can’t even look at you right now’
- 1 The Internet's top 25 worst passwords, and what yours say about you
- 2 Mother 'proud' of Tyler Doohan, 8, who saved six people from a house fire but died after trying to save a seventh
- 3 George Stinney: After 70 years, justice in sight for boy America sent to electric chair
- 4 Mystery of the Lyubov Orlova: Ghost ship full of cannibal rats ‘could be heading for Britain’
- 5 Taiji Cove dolphins: Japanese government defends 'lawful' slaughter as hunters prepare to kill 200 animals

READER SURVEY
Take our short survey for your opportunity to win one of two £100 Amazon vouchers.

New Year, New Career? Get into teaching!
Are you ready to become part of a new generation of high-calibre teachers?

WIN a 10 day campervan adventure in Queensland
WIN a 10 day campervan adventure in Queensland. From the world’s biggest sand island…to the glorious Great Barrier Reef.

Transfer your expertise to a teaching career
After almost two decades working in IT, Anna Kyriacou decided to retrain as a teacher. Find out why.

Bermuda
Lose yourself in the enchanting scenery and crystal waters of this historic chain of islands – perfect for relaxation and activity alike

Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
Highly Prestigious Brand looking for Junior IT Counsel!
£53000 - £62000 per annum + Excellent Benefits: Pro-Recruitment Group: One of ...
Enterprise Business Representative- Milton Keynes
£12000 per annum: Inspiring Interns: This rapidly growing media research and c...
Solution Architect- Transaction Banking- Payments
£80000 - £90000 per annum: Cornwallis Elt : Solution Architect, Client Facing,...
Financial Publishing Product Executive - £18-20k
£18000 - £20000 per annum: Inspiring Interns: This award winning financial pub...
Day In a Page

After 70 years, justice in sight for boy America sent to electric chair

Unearthed: Secrets of the devastation caused by Grand Slam

A living history lesson: Remembering the Holocaust

Non-fighting talk

Sheryl Sandberg is newest female billionaire

Italian renaissance: House of Schiaparelli relaunches

Phil Brown: 'I would have kept Hull in the Premier League for 20 years'

Pete Jenson: A Different League
