Bishops are wrong over migrants says Cameron

CHURCH of England bishops are ‘wrong’ to call for Britain to take 50,000 refugees from the Syrian conflict, David Cameron said yesterday.

In a move that irritated ministers, a group of 84 bishops released a letter at the weekend accusing the Government of ignoring a ‘moral crisis’.

But in a blunt rebuke, Mr Cameron said the bishops should devote more energy towards championing Britain’s stance on foreign aid. And he suggested that acting on the group’s demands could encourage more migrants to make the hazardous boat crossing to Europe.

The row came as Mr Cameron restated Britain’s support for Turkey to join the EU, despite concerns it could lead to a fresh wave of immigration at a time when ministers are trying to reduce numbers.

Britain is committed to taking 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years. Mr Cameron yesterday revealed that the first 1,000 will be resettled in the UK by Christmas. He told MPs: ‘No one has more respect for the bishops than me, but on this occasion, yes, I think they’re wrong.

‘I think actually the right thing to do is to take 20,000 refugees from the camps, and if you become part of the mechanism of distributing people around the Euro-

‘On this occasion I think they’re wrong’

pean Union then you’re encouraging people to make that dangerous journey.

‘Britain has fulfilled our moral obligations by making a promise to the poorest countries and poorest people in the world of spending 0.7 per cent of our gross national income on aid, and how many other of the big countries that made that promise have kept that promise?

‘So let’s hear an in- depth intervention from the bishops on that issue.’

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn backed the bishops’ calls, arguing that taking part in an EU resettlement scheme would help the Prime Minister in his negotiations with Brussels ahead of an in/out referendum – a suggestion dismissed by Downing Street.

Amid growing concern about progress on the talks, at least six cabinet ministers are reported to have asked Mr Cameron for the right to campaign to leave the EU.

The Prime Minister insists publicly that he has not made a decision on the issue, but one Cabinet source said ministers were likely to face the sack if they campaign against Mr Cameron.