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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/11/conservative-mps-nicky-morgan-tim-loughton-brexit-retention-of-child-refugees-rights
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| Conservative MPs press for post-Brexit retention of child refugees' rights | Conservative MPs press for post-Brexit retention of child refugees' rights |
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| Two leading Conservative ex-ministers from the remain and leave sides of the EU debate will push the government to commit to allowing refugee children to reunite with their families under post-Brexit immigration law. | Two leading Conservative ex-ministers from the remain and leave sides of the EU debate will push the government to commit to allowing refugee children to reunite with their families under post-Brexit immigration law. |
| Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary and a prominent remain supporter, and the former children’s minister Tim Loughton, who backed leave, have submitted an amendment to the EU withdrawal bill that would ensure child refugees have the same rights to be reunited with family members in the UK as they currently have under EU law. | Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary and a prominent remain supporter, and the former children’s minister Tim Loughton, who backed leave, have submitted an amendment to the EU withdrawal bill that would ensure child refugees have the same rights to be reunited with family members in the UK as they currently have under EU law. |
| The amendment is likely to attract cross-party support. Liberal Democrat MPs Jo Swinson and Tom Brake and SNP MPs Stuart McDonald and Joanna Cherry said they would add their namesto the proposed amendment in the coming days, as will Labour MP Stella Creasy, who is also planning a wider amendment which would cover freedom of movement. | |
| The children’s charity Unicef UK has previously said vulnerable children could end up being permanently separated from their families unless the government specifically includes family reunification rights in post-Brexit immigration law. | The children’s charity Unicef UK has previously said vulnerable children could end up being permanently separated from their families unless the government specifically includes family reunification rights in post-Brexit immigration law. |
| Refugees have the right to be reunited with extended family members in the UK under the EU’s Dublin III regulation, but the UK’s own immigration law covers only children and their parents. | Refugees have the right to be reunited with extended family members in the UK under the EU’s Dublin III regulation, but the UK’s own immigration law covers only children and their parents. |
| Campaigners have said the government should commit to widening its definition of family to allow refugee children to be reunited with siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Morgan and Loughton’s amendment would ensure this happens. | Campaigners have said the government should commit to widening its definition of family to allow refugee children to be reunited with siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Morgan and Loughton’s amendment would ensure this happens. |
| The EU withdrawal bill, also known as the repeal bill, copies existing EU legislation into domestic UK law to ensure a smooth transition on the day after Brexit. It is being examined in its committee stage before going to a final vote in the House of Commons. | The EU withdrawal bill, also known as the repeal bill, copies existing EU legislation into domestic UK law to ensure a smooth transition on the day after Brexit. It is being examined in its committee stage before going to a final vote in the House of Commons. |
| Unicef UK’s deputy director, Lily Caprani, said the amendment was “a display of the political will” in favour of helping child refugees, and urged MPs to add their names to the amendment. | Unicef UK’s deputy director, Lily Caprani, said the amendment was “a display of the political will” in favour of helping child refugees, and urged MPs to add their names to the amendment. |
| “The UK must urgently establish a lasting solution for unaccompanied children desperately needing to be reunited with their close family members in the UK,” she said. “Brexit must not lead to our nation doing less for the world’s most vulnerable children.” | “The UK must urgently establish a lasting solution for unaccompanied children desperately needing to be reunited with their close family members in the UK,” she said. “Brexit must not lead to our nation doing less for the world’s most vulnerable children.” |
| The charity, whose headquarters is in Geneva, said the overhaul of reunification rules would tackle one of the key reasons children were pushed into the arms of smugglers and traffickers, because of the need for them to make the perilous journey to Europe in order for EU law to apply. | The charity, whose headquarters is in Geneva, said the overhaul of reunification rules would tackle one of the key reasons children were pushed into the arms of smugglers and traffickers, because of the need for them to make the perilous journey to Europe in order for EU law to apply. |
| The government has said plans for the immigration system after the UK leaves the EU will be revealed in a white paper this year, with a new immigration bill set to go through parliament in 2018. | The government has said plans for the immigration system after the UK leaves the EU will be revealed in a white paper this year, with a new immigration bill set to go through parliament in 2018. |