Nottinghamshire turns its back on Child Refugees

On 17th July, Nottinghamshire County Council voted to end its support for lone children seeking asylum in the UK.

The Conservative-controlled Council defended its decision, claiming that "our own young people" should be prioritised over those who come to the UK from places of turmoil, without their parents, in search of safety.

But Andrew Ellwood, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Gedling Borough Council, fought back against this argument:

"It is disgraceful that the Tory led County Council have suspended the scheme to support child refugees in Nottinghamshire. This was a scheme that ensured the re-settlement of these vulnerable people who have suffered so much in recent years. A mean spirited move which will be condemned by all progressive minded people."

Nationally, the Liberal Democrats have fought to reopen the 'Dubs Scheme', through which the government had planned to take in 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian children. Yet in June of this year it emerged that only 200 had been resettled under the programme. Liberal Democrats leader, Tim Farron, today branded the government's decision as "not worthy of this House or this country". Tim reminded the government of Britain's "moral duty" to welcome refugees, as we did to those fleeing Nazi persecution 80 years ago.

In the 2017 General Election campaign, the Liberal Democrats campaigned on the pledge of safeguarding a total of 50,000 Syrian refugees over this Parliament.