Child refugees
Recently, I’ve been contacted by many of my constituents about protections for separated child refugees. I must admit, I share their concerns and took them directly to the floor of the House of Commons.
By taking the step of removing legal protections to ensure that family reunion to the same standard as under current EU law continues, the British Government has sent a very dangerous signal.
When safe and legal routes are not accessible, children are more likely to make dangerous journeys and be pushed into the hands of people smugglers.
The House of Lords recently added an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill which sought to protect child refugee family reunion. Quite shamefully, it was voted down when it came back to the House of Commons on 22nd January, despite myself and my SNP colleagues voting in favour of the amendment.
Please rest assured that myself and my SNP colleagues at Westminster will continue to press the UK government on its responsibility to care for unaccompanied minors and protecting them from harm.
