James Brokenshire MP, a Home Office minister, is reported in
the Guardian as saying in the recent House of Commons debate that for Britain to accept refugee children already in Europe would “…. inadvertently create
a situation in which families see an advantage in sending children alone, ahead
and in the hands of traffickers, putting their lives at risk by attempting
treacherous sea crossings to Europe which would be the worst of all outcomes”.
That’s a bit like saying that we shouldn’t provide medical
care to the victims of motor accidents because to do so might encourage people
to drive less safely!
The Shadow Immigration Minister, Keir Starmer MP has my
support. He is reported as saying that Brokenshire is arguing that we must abandon
these children to their fate. I’m glad that Starmer and many other
Parliamentarians, such as Alf Dubbs and Yvette Cooper, are standing up to this indefensible and cruel policy adopted
by the British government.
