Cameron facing a Commons defeat over sanctuary for child refugees

DAVID cameron could be defeated in the commons today over the Government’s policy on taking in child refugees.

At least 12 Tory mPs are said to be considering backing a Labour amendment demanding that the UK admits more unaccompanied young people who have fled to Europe from war-torn areas of the middle East.

The amendment to the Immigration Bill, backed by the House of Lords last month, commits Britain to take in 3,000 lone child refugees who are already in Europe. ministers attempted to buy off the rebels last week by reiterating a pledge to admit 3,000 more migrants by 2020, mostly children. But they insist these will come from camps in the middle East and north Africa.

The Prime minister believes that helping those already in Europe will encourage more to make the perilous journey.

But Heidi Allen, Tory mP for South cambridgeshire, wrote on her website that the Government needs to ‘do more’ and insisted she will ‘work tirelessly with my colleagues to ensure the UK plays its part in addressing the humanitarian crisis we are facing’.

The amendment was tabled in the Lords by Lord Dubs, who was saved from the nazis and brought to London in 1939 as part of the Kindertransport programme. He has led a parliamentary campaign to take in youngsters from camps near calais and elsewhere in Europe, who he says are vulnerable to exploitation, sexual violence and disease.

With the Government’s commons majority just 18, a rebellion by a dozen Tories could inflict defeat.

conservative mP Dan Poulter said he was considering the merits of the Dubs amendment.

He said: ‘There is a crisis right here in Europe, right now, that needs addressing.’

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: ‘The orphan children I have met need help and hope. our government can offer that.’ IF YOU CAN’T GET YOUR DAILY MAIL . . . 0808 272 0808*