Commenting on the Government’s response to tomorrow’s vote on resettling Syrian refugees, Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP, said:

“Vulnerable Syrian refugees, torture victims, abandoned children and those struggling to cope or survive in the camps desperately need sanctuary and Britain has a moral obligation to help.

“I am very glad the Government has finally bowed to pressure before tomorrow’s opposition vote. Compassion and common sense have prevailed over Government and ministerial resistance - and it is a tribute to the work of charities, campaigners and cross party support in Parliament that the Prime Minister and Home Secretary have reversed their position completely in the space of a week.

“The Government still needs to explain how the programme will work and whether they are signing up to the UNHCR programme or trying to run a parallel programme of their own. Given the considerable flexibility in the UN programme for countries to set their own priorities, numbers and security checks, the benefits of not running parallel bureaucracy and the value of being able to encourage other countries to follow suit, the Government would be best to sign up with the UN.

“In addition, ministers need to confirm that these will be additional places and will not be at the expense of help for other refugees. Finally it would be helpful for the Home Secretary to explain why ministers resisted for so long and to look urgently at removing refugees from the government’s net migration target. Immigration policy is very different from Britain’s long tradition of providing sanctuary for those fleeing persecution and the two things should not be confused.

“The dreadful conflict in Syria has caused a humanitarian crisis. As well as helping all those we can in the region, it is right that we also do our bit to provide the most desperate refugees with a place of safety.”

ENDS