‘GREAT CITY’ FOR HELPING AFGHANS

Lineker praises pledge to be ‘first port of call’ for afghan refugees

GARY Lineker has praised Leicester after Sir Peter Soulsby confirmed the city will be “the first port of call” for Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

Leicester has been named as one of the few cities across the UK where refugees from Afghanistan will be sent to help get their applications processed, before being moved to other parts of the country.

The city will also take in some Afghan refugees as permanent residents as part of the resettlement scheme.

Taking time away from England’s transfer deadline day, Gary retweeted the Leicester Mercury’s article about it on Tuesday afternoon, adding a short comment: “What a great city.”

Lineker has been vocal on social media about the humanitarian crisis created when the Taliban took control of all of Afghanistan’s major cities in the middle of August.

The Afghanistan resettlement Scheme was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week confirming an additional 20,000 refugees will be accepted into the UK in the next five years - with 5,000 people set to arrive by the end of 2021.

This is on top of the 5,000 refugees already arriving in the country from Afghanistan, with the Prime Minister confirming this in the House of Commons when Parliament was recalled on August 18. Sir Peter Soulsby, alongside his deputy and assistant mayors, have published a statement confirming that Leicester will welcome those seeking refuge from the Taliban.

They also confirmed that refugees fleeing “threat and oppression elsewhere” will also be welcome in the city.

The statement reads: “As we have always done, Leicester will welcome those seeking refuge from conflict and oppression.

“In addition to our long-standing commitment to provide support, we will be taking the opportunity to participate in the resettlement scheme announced this week as a response to the truly awful situation in Afghanistan. Leicester will proudly offer sanctuary and a home to Afghans fleeing the Taliban. The support being offered to Afghans highlights the lack of help and resource being given to people fleeing similar threat and oppression elsewhere.

“These people are welcome in Leicester too.”

getty SUPPORT: Gary Lineker, below, retweeted the Mercury story about Leicester welcoming people fleeing Afghanistan. Below left, how the Mercury reported it

(Image: Mirrorpix) 1: Gary visited a police station in Colorado Springs, USA, ahead of the 1986 World Cup tournament in Mexico. (Image: Mirrorpix) 2: Gary gets a few golfing tips from Tiger Woods in 2000.

(Image: John Ferguson) 3: Gary in Afghanistan with England cricketer Freddie Flintoff. They met the medical staff at Camp Bastion, who had been awarded a special honour in recognition of their work out there.