Glasgow Times

Councillor backs call for city to accept refugees from Greece

- BY CARLA JENKINS

AGLASGOW Councillor has backed a petition which asks Glasgow City Council to accept refugees from Greece. SNP Councillor John Letford, councillor for Maryhill and Springburn, told the Glasgow Times: “Glasgow is a city of migrants.

“Whether from the Highlands, Ireland or in my case, from the south east of England, our city has grown and prospered because of her migrants.

“All those Italians, and Pakistanis who Glasgow their home, now.

“In recent years they have been joined by Afghans, Somalis and other Africans, who are now Glaswegian­s too.”

He added: “People do indeed make Glasgow and Glasgow has been made by her refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.

“But, looking further afield, the situation in Greece today is dire.

“This is why I support the Europe Must Act campaign, a Europe-wide campaign to relocate refugees and asylum seekers from the dehumanisi­ng, overcrowde­d camps on the Greek islands, across Europe.”

Glasgow Must Act, the Glasgow branch of Europe Must Act, launched the petition on March 17 asking the Council to provide shelter for a certain number of refugees currently residing in Greece.

It is inspired by Berlin, which declared itself ready to accept a similar number of refugees.

Europe Must Act’s petition has more than 100,000 signatures, and is backed by 10 MEPs and one 160 NGOs.

A volunteer for Glasgow Must Act said: “I volunteere­d with an NGO supporting residents of a refugee camp in Greece for two years, both in the field and remotely.

“So far, 13 NGOs and more than 700 individual­s have signed the

Jews, Poles have made are Glaswegian­s

Glasgow Must Act petition.”

Councillor John Letford added that he will seek support from the SNP Group and Glasgow City Council to lobby the Scottish Government to offer refugees asylum in Glasgow.

Councillor Letford than 40,000 human stranded and in limbo.

“But, we can do our bit – the great said: “More beings are city of Berlin has shown the way, committing to welcoming 1500.

“If Glasgow could welcome 500, then across the 23 wards of the city, that would mean that only 20 new Scots would be coming to live and contribute to my ward of Maryhill. We can do this. We must do this.

“Scots are renowned the world over as migrants. Whether that be in the mountains plains of Canada Jamaica.

“We can help offering refuge.

“I will now seek support from the SNP Group and Council to ask the UK Government to allow Glasgow to offer that refuge.

“Our city’s story never Please offer your support.” of America, the or the fields of

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 ??  ?? Glasgow Must Act campaign has been inspired by Berlin
Glasgow Must Act campaign has been inspired by Berlin

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