Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary said:

“It is very disappointing that the Prime Minister was so resistant to signing up to the UN programme for the most vulnerable refugees.

“The leadership Britain is showing with aid in the region is immensely important and we strongly support the work the Government has done.

"But this isn’t an either-or. The UN is asking for help for the most vulnerable people of all - including abandoned children and torture victims. They are not asylum seekers as they cannot travel here or elsewhere to apply for asylum. Nearly every other European nation, Canada, 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 in voting for joining this limited UN programme for the most vulnerable Syrian refugees.

“Shamefully some Government Ministers have described this UN programme as ‘token’, but it is not ‘token’ for a child who is given a home. It would be wrong for Britain to refuse to help and turn its back on them.”


Jim Murphy MP, Shadow International Development Secretary said:

“This is the biggest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War. The government are rightly investing £600m in financial support for those affected by the Syrian crisis, but the UK should also join the 18 other nations who have agreed to take in a small number of those whose situation is so desperate that they can’t survive life in camps.”