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Nick Clegg pushing for Britain to join UN scheme for Syria refugees Nick Clegg pushing for Britain to join UN scheme for Syria refugees
(about 2 hours later)
Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, has been working behind the scenes in Whitehall to persuade Conservative colleagues that the UK should join the UN scheme to take a limited number of refugees from Syria. Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, has been working behind the scenes in Whitehall to persuade Conservative colleagues that the UK should join a UN scheme to take a limited number of refugees from Syria.
Clegg believes Britain may be damaging its international reputation for sending aid to Syrian refugees by refusing to join the UN humanitarian scheme.Clegg believes Britain may be damaging its international reputation for sending aid to Syrian refugees by refusing to join the UN humanitarian scheme.
He is stressing he does not expect Britain to be taking huge numbers, but that the UN, as the organisation on the ground, is best placed in determining the groups that are in most need of help.He is stressing he does not expect Britain to be taking huge numbers, but that the UN, as the organisation on the ground, is best placed in determining the groups that are in most need of help.
The United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) wants western nations to accept 30,000 of the 2.3 million Syrians who have fled their country.The United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) wants western nations to accept 30,000 of the 2.3 million Syrians who have fled their country.
Clegg sensed a less inflexible tone from the prime minister in the Commons when the issue was raised by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, on Wednesday, and is hoping a solution could be found inside government before Labour stages a debate on the issue next Wednesday in the Commons. Clegg sensed a less inflexible tone from the prime minister in the Commons when the issue was raised by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, on Wednesday, and hopes a solution can be found inside government before Labour stages a debate on the issue next Wednesday in the Commons.
Clegg clearly felt it necessary to reveal his internal lobbying role once Labour raised the issue in the Commons.Clegg clearly felt it necessary to reveal his internal lobbying role once Labour raised the issue in the Commons.
The shadow leader of the house, Andrew Lansley, defended the government position on Thursday, saying the UK was the second biggest contributor to Syrian refugees, adding: "We are meeting fully our commitments." The shadow leader of the house, Andrew Lansley, defended the government position on Thursday, saying the UK was the second biggest contributor to Syrian refugees. He said: "We are meeting fully our commitments."
He said the UK took greater numbers than the 1,100 planned but this should not be taken as "ending the obligation to the millions of refugees that want to be supported in their camps and want to return to Syria soon".
A source close to the deputy PM said: "Nick Clegg has been arguing for weeks in government that Britain should consider joining a Syrian refugee burden-sharing arrangement. This would be targeted assistance for the most vulnerable. Providing refuge to those in need is one of Britain's greatest, oldest traditions.A source close to the deputy PM said: "Nick Clegg has been arguing for weeks in government that Britain should consider joining a Syrian refugee burden-sharing arrangement. This would be targeted assistance for the most vulnerable. Providing refuge to those in need is one of Britain's greatest, oldest traditions.
"We are one of the most open-hearted countries in the world and Nick believes we have a moral responsibility to help. "We are one of the most open-hearted countries in the world and Nick believes we have a moral responsibility to help. The deputy prime minister not only believes the moral case for doing this is overwhelming, he also thinks the political case for action is unarguable as well.
"The deputy prime minister not only believes the moral case for doing this is overwhelming, he also thinks the political case for action is unarguable as well. "The coalition government has been the most generous in the world when it comes to helping with the humanitarian crisis in Syria and it would be completely self-defeating to allow ourselves to be painted as the least generous. The Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case around the cabinet table. We have yet to gain the agreement of our Conservative colleagues but we remain hopeful that we will."
"The coalition government has been the most generous in the world when it comes to helping with the humanitarian crisis in Syria and it would be completely self-defeating to allow ourselves to be painted as the least generous.
"The Liberal Democrats will continue to make the case around the cabinet table. We have yet to gain the agreement of our Conservative colleagues but we remain hopeful that we will."
Liberal Democrat sources pointed out that Clegg had pushed for more help for Syrian refugees and urged other countries to give more aid when he addressed the UN general assembly last September.Liberal Democrat sources pointed out that Clegg had pushed for more help for Syrian refugees and urged other countries to give more aid when he addressed the UN general assembly last September.
It was said that he did not have a fixed view of how many refugees the UK should accept but did not expect Britain to be taking the 10,000 planned in Germany. Instead, Clegg had in mind a number similar to the 500 being accepted by France. It was said that he did not have a fixed view of how many refugees the UK should accept but did not expect Britain to be taking as many as the 10,000 planned in Germany. Instead, Clegg had in mind a number similar to the 500 being accepted by France.
Cameron has been reluctant to be directed by a third party on the refugee issue, and feels that if it did so some of the countries that have provided little aid would be let off the hook. Cameron has been reluctant to be directed by a third party on the refugee issue, and feels that Britain took more then some of the countries that have provided little aid would be let off the hook.
Miliband argued on Wednesday it was possible to be generous in terms of aid and also be involved in the UN refugee programme. The UK remains the clear leader in the EU in terms of aid committed – over £600m. Miliband argued on Wednesday that it was possible to be generous in terms of aid and also be involved in the UN refugee programme. The UK remains the clear leader in the EU in terms of aid committed, at more than £600m.