Catholic agencies shocked at government refusal to take in unaccompanied child refugees

Child in Calais

Just weeks after Pope Francis visited Lesbos and returned to Rome with three refugee families, the British government has refused to take in 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children - some as young as five. The amendment to the Immigration Bill, proposed by Lord Alfred Dubs, who came to England as a child refugee himself during World War Two, was defeated last night by 294 to 276 votes.

The news has been greeted with shock by many Catholic organisations.

In a statement CAFOD said: We are disappointed that Lord Dubs' amendment was narrowly defeated by the government last night. Pope Francis, on his recent visit to Lesbos reminded us, 'refugees are first and foremost human beings', "We hope that the world will heed these scenes of tragic and desperate need, and respond in a way worthy of our common humanity."

"Children only have one childhood, they need protection not exposure to neglect and high risk situations. It is tragic that Lord Dubbs amendment to the Immigration Bill was defeated in the House of Commons. What does that tell us about The British values we have today?" said Dr Rosemary Keenan, Chief Executive Officer of the Catholic Children's Society (Westminster).

Caroline Grogan, Communications and Media Officer from Caritas Social Action Network said: "We are concerned about the welfare of vulnerable, unaccompanied minors in the region and in refugee camps in Europe. These minors are at high risk from human traffickers and other abuses that we have seen come to light in recent months. We encourage decision makers to recognise their moral duty to protect vulnerable refugee minors."

Just five Conservatives supported Lord Dubs' amendment to the Immigration Bill. One of them, Stephen Phillips, gave a heartfelt speech in an effort persuade colleagues. He told them: "If I were separated from my children, if they were destitute in a foreign country cold, hungry and far away from home, what would I want for them? Would I be content for them to be at risk of violence and exploitation, often sexual?"

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "This problem isn't going away, it is getting worse. The Government have closed their eyes to those in need. Britain has consistently stood up for the best in human nature - it has opened its doors with the Kindertransport to those escaping Nazi brutality and again to Ugandan's fleeing Idi Amin's brutal regime. Tonight the Government have dishonoured that legacy."

Labour MP Naz Shah, a former foster carer, told a harrowing story from a boy she looked after in her home. She said: "He told me in his own words how when they were trying to get onto the back of the lorry, there was only one space and two boys who needed that space. One killed the other for that space."

Labour Shadow Home Office Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the suffering of children in Europe was horrific. He told MPs: "When I went to Dunkirk there were 3,000 individuals living in a swamp in tents in the freezing cold, including many children. There were eight volunteers doing their very best to help. There wasn't an official in sight apart from two gendarmes on the gate."

Defending the decidion, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said Britain was the largest contributor to the humanitarian response to the crisis in Europe and the Balkans, contributing £65 million. There is another £10 million refugee children fund specifically to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children in Europe, he said.

He said that in the last six weeks 50 children had been identified as potentially being eligible for family reunification in the UK. Of these, 24 have had their claims accepted and more than half of them have already arrived in the UK.

But Yvette Cooper, Chair of Labour's Refugee Taskforce described the vote as "deeply disappointing." She said: "Thousands of children are sleeping rough in Europe tonight, vulnerable to exploitation and abuse and Britain should not be turning its back. Alf Dubs will keep pressing this issue in the Lords as we must do our bit to help.

Lord Alton told ICN: "I will be raising this issue again in the House of Lords later today. Deliberately leaving asylum seekers in enforced destitution is an affront to their human dignity as smacks of the work house rather than a civilised, humane society."

* LATEST: The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over calls to take in child refugees from Europe. A new amendment to the Immigration Bill from Labour's Lord Dubs was backed on Tuesday night by 279 votes to 172.