WINTER WARNING
David Cameron must ensure that 1,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees are settled before freezing winter temperatures take their toll, campaigners have urged.
Volunteers and activists from Citizens UK, Avaaz and 38 Degrees will be joined by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson and Lib Dem leader Tim Farron outside Parliament this evening to remember six children who died in Syrian refugee camps due to freezing conditions last winter.
They will say that the offer made by the government last month to resettle 20,000 refugees over five years is not enough, and call for 1,000 of the most vulnerable refugees to arrive in the next three months. Citizens UK’s Zrinka Bralo said: “We need significant action in 2015, not in two, three or five years’ time.” know our economywould take a hit, what we don’t know is how bad that hit would be.”
Attacking the lobby hoping for Britain’s exit he said: “They cannot guarantee that jobs would be safe or that prices wouldn’t rise. They cannot explain howwewould stop free movement and simultaneously keep access to the world’s largest duty free market.”
He cited Confederation of British Industry (CBI) estimates that the combined benefits of trade, investment, jobs and lower prices mean membership is worth £3,000 per year on average to every UK household.
European diplomats expect that the British Government will have to submit detailed written proposals for what it wants out of a renegotiation before a summit of European leaders in December.
These will then be the subject of negotiation with the aim of getting agreement in the first half of 2016. This would allow Mr Cameron to call a referendum in time for his favoured date of September 2016.