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| Tory backbenchers seek compromise over immigration bill vote | Tory backbenchers seek compromise over immigration bill vote |
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| Backbench Conservative MPs unhappy with the government’s refusal to take in more unaccompanied child refugees from Europe are negotiating with ministers to find a compromise to stave off a possible government defeat next month. | Backbench Conservative MPs unhappy with the government’s refusal to take in more unaccompanied child refugees from Europe are negotiating with ministers to find a compromise to stave off a possible government defeat next month. |
| Ministers are under growing pressure over the plight of unaccompanied child refugees from Europe, after it emerged that the Democratic Unionist party has signalled it may instruct its eight MPs to vote against the government in a crucial vote on an amendment to the immigration bill. | Ministers are under growing pressure over the plight of unaccompanied child refugees from Europe, after it emerged that the Democratic Unionist party has signalled it may instruct its eight MPs to vote against the government in a crucial vote on an amendment to the immigration bill. |
| At least seven Conservative MPs are expected to rebel in addition, and will back a new amendment tabled by Labour peer Alf Dubs calling on the government to offer sanctuary to children fleeing conflict without their parents. Around a dozen more are wavering, raising the possibility of a government defeat. | At least seven Conservative MPs are expected to rebel in addition, and will back a new amendment tabled by Labour peer Alf Dubs calling on the government to offer sanctuary to children fleeing conflict without their parents. Around a dozen more are wavering, raising the possibility of a government defeat. |
| Westminster’s DUP MPs and 35 Conservative MPs abstained in Monday’s vote on an earlier amendment by Lord Dubs that stipulated the government should offer homes to 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees. The government narrowly avoided defeat in that instance, by just 18 votes. | Westminster’s DUP MPs and 35 Conservative MPs abstained in Monday’s vote on an earlier amendment by Lord Dubs that stipulated the government should offer homes to 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees. The government narrowly avoided defeat in that instance, by just 18 votes. |
| The Daily Mail on Thursday took the unusual step of printing a full page editorial on the topic, headlined: “We must give these lost children sanctuary”. The article said: “Nobody has been more robust that this paper in giving voice to public concerns over the impact of mass, unrestricted immigration. But ... we believe that the plight of these unaccompanied children now in Europe – hundreds of them on our very doorstep in the Channel ports of France – has become so harrowing that we simply cannot turn our backs.” | The Daily Mail on Thursday took the unusual step of printing a full page editorial on the topic, headlined: “We must give these lost children sanctuary”. The article said: “Nobody has been more robust that this paper in giving voice to public concerns over the impact of mass, unrestricted immigration. But ... we believe that the plight of these unaccompanied children now in Europe – hundreds of them on our very doorstep in the Channel ports of France – has become so harrowing that we simply cannot turn our backs.” |
| Dubs was saved from the Nazis as a child refugee, and brought to Britain. He has argued that the children fleeing violence in Syria and other conflict-ridden areas deserve the same welcome that he and the children of the Kindertransport were given. | Dubs was saved from the Nazis as a child refugee, and brought to Britain. He has argued that the children fleeing violence in Syria and other conflict-ridden areas deserve the same welcome that he and the children of the Kindertransport were given. |
| His revised amendment removes the reference to 3,000 children, and simply states that the government should make arrangements to relocate to the UK a “specified number of unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe”. That number should be determined in consultation with local authorities, and MPs close to negotiations are confident that the “specified” figure would run to several thousand. | His revised amendment removes the reference to 3,000 children, and simply states that the government should make arrangements to relocate to the UK a “specified number of unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe”. That number should be determined in consultation with local authorities, and MPs close to negotiations are confident that the “specified” figure would run to several thousand. |
| As public concern for the plight of lone refugee children grows, Home Office ministers are consulting a handful of Conservative MPs who are expected to rebel on the vote, to seek out a compromise so defeat can be avoided. | As public concern for the plight of lone refugee children grows, Home Office ministers are consulting a handful of Conservative MPs who are expected to rebel on the vote, to seek out a compromise so defeat can be avoided. |
| Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who abstained in the last vote, said she would rebel and back the Dubs amendment, which is expected to return to the House of Commons on 9 May. But she said she and colleagues would be talking to James Brokenshire, the immigration minister, to see if the government could be persuaded to support the amendment. “We are working on amendments; small tweaks of language making it more palatable to the government,” she said. “We want to get it through by hook or by crook.” | Conservative MP Heidi Allen, who abstained in the last vote, said she would rebel and back the Dubs amendment, which is expected to return to the House of Commons on 9 May. But she said she and colleagues would be talking to James Brokenshire, the immigration minister, to see if the government could be persuaded to support the amendment. “We are working on amendments; small tweaks of language making it more palatable to the government,” she said. “We want to get it through by hook or by crook.” |
| The DUP said it wanted a “humane and practical solution to this crisis”. | The DUP said it wanted a “humane and practical solution to this crisis”. |
| Yvette Cooper, chair of Labour’s refugee taskforce, said: “It is clear that MPs of all parties are feeling increasingly uneasy about the idea of standing by while child refugees are sleeping rough, alone on the streets of Europe at risk of trafficking and abuse. In just three days, nearly 60,000 people have signed a petition calling on Britain not to turn its back on child refugees in Europe. David Cameron should realise he is wrong on this and agree to support the Dubs amendment when MPs vote on 9 May.” | Yvette Cooper, chair of Labour’s refugee taskforce, said: “It is clear that MPs of all parties are feeling increasingly uneasy about the idea of standing by while child refugees are sleeping rough, alone on the streets of Europe at risk of trafficking and abuse. In just three days, nearly 60,000 people have signed a petition calling on Britain not to turn its back on child refugees in Europe. David Cameron should realise he is wrong on this and agree to support the Dubs amendment when MPs vote on 9 May.” |
| Tanya Steele, Save the Children CEO, said: “Last year an estimated 10,000 lone children went missing in Europe. Lone refugees as young as nine, fleeing war, have arrived with high hopes of Europe being a place of sanctuary. They are now sleeping on roadsides, in police cells and in informal camps. In Calais, children are forced to gamble with their lives as they try to reach their relatives in the UK. Some are dying trying to reach their family. The power of the Dubs amendment is felt by children that are waiting to hear their fate. If MPs vote for this, they will be protecting lone children from the gravest forms of abuse and exploitation.” | Tanya Steele, Save the Children CEO, said: “Last year an estimated 10,000 lone children went missing in Europe. Lone refugees as young as nine, fleeing war, have arrived with high hopes of Europe being a place of sanctuary. They are now sleeping on roadsides, in police cells and in informal camps. In Calais, children are forced to gamble with their lives as they try to reach their relatives in the UK. Some are dying trying to reach their family. The power of the Dubs amendment is felt by children that are waiting to hear their fate. If MPs vote for this, they will be protecting lone children from the gravest forms of abuse and exploitation.” |
| The organisation Help Refugees, which is supporting children in Calais and elsewhere, said: “The conditions for lone child refugees in Europe are grim. They are reliant on organisations like Help Refugees for shelter and handouts but have to fend entirely for themselves, cook for themselves, cope with scabies and other illnesses and risk brutality and exploitation on a daily basis. We urge MPs not to turn the lives of children into a political football and instead vote with their hearts and their conscience to offer sanctuary to these vulnerable youngsters.” | The organisation Help Refugees, which is supporting children in Calais and elsewhere, said: “The conditions for lone child refugees in Europe are grim. They are reliant on organisations like Help Refugees for shelter and handouts but have to fend entirely for themselves, cook for themselves, cope with scabies and other illnesses and risk brutality and exploitation on a daily basis. We urge MPs not to turn the lives of children into a political football and instead vote with their hearts and their conscience to offer sanctuary to these vulnerable youngsters.” |
| In a statement, Brokenshire said the government would consider its response to the Lords’ vote, ahead of the immigration bill returning to the House of Commons. The government has defended its opposition to the Dubs amendment, arguing that it does not want to inadvertently create a situation in which families “see an advantage in sending children alone, ahead and in the hands of traffickers”. | In a statement, Brokenshire said the government would consider its response to the Lords’ vote, ahead of the immigration bill returning to the House of Commons. The government has defended its opposition to the Dubs amendment, arguing that it does not want to inadvertently create a situation in which families “see an advantage in sending children alone, ahead and in the hands of traffickers”. |