The UK Government has voted in favor of resettling unaccompanied child refugees, agreeing with the Lords Amendment to the Immigration Bill.
MPs vote to agree to Lords Amendment 87B to the Immigration Bill #DubsAmendment pic.twitter.com/UkiR87NfpG
— House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) May 9, 2016
After weeks of pressure from campaigners and even MPs within his own party, UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, was forced to do a U-turn after his decision to not accept thousands of unaccompanied child refugees proved extremely unpopular.
Confirming that he would no longer oppose the plan, Mr Cameron was condemned for "putting the country to shame".
Delighted about #DubsAmendment news. Focus now turns to the details of UK Govt can best assist unaccompanied child refugees ASAP
— Refugee Action (@RefugeeAction) May 10, 2016
Labour Lord Dubs, 83 proposed an amendment to the bill, titled #DubsAmendment, it promised to support and accept the relocation of 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees, who had already crossed the borders into Europe. Lord Dubs who had himself fled Nazis to Britain as a child, won huge support for his new proposal.
However, the government has come under huge pressure again, this time from MP Yvette Cooper, who has called for them to "hurry the process up" as a delay in children reaching the UK could impact the lives of thousands.
Now #DubsAmendment has passed we need your help to act fast and get children here in time for new school term. https://t.co/HuudDtjble
— HelpRefugeesUK (@HelpRefugeesUK) May 9, 2016
The government said in a Commons meeting today it could take up to seven months for child refugees to reach the UK. MP Cooper said in response to this time frame that a delay could seriously hinder the lives of child refugees attempting to enter the UK.
"Seven months may be a fast time for bureaucrat — it's a very slow time for a child," MP Cooper said in the Commons debate.
The heated discussion continues with MP Cooper saying:
"Children are at risk right now. There are 11-year-olds still sleeping in tents in Calais on their own. There are 14-year-olds who want to be surgeons who have been out of school for two years. There are teenage boys who have been abused who are at risk of being abused again."
However in light of Cameron's U-turn, the Home Office announced a plan to pay for the resettlement, which would be financed from the overseas budget.
The Home Office will reimburse councils for housing and other costs. The Local Government has estimated that it will cost US$72,000 per year for each child, based on 3,000 refugees — this comes to US$243 million per year.
