Immigration figures show the Prime Minister’s atrocious failing on Syrian refugees says Tim Farron

Migration statistics released yesterday expose the Tory Government's failing to offer a safe haven to people fleeing the war in Syria.

The Prime Minister committed to welcoming 20,000 refugees by 2020, but progress has been slow and weak, not even reaching 10 percent of the target.

During the 12 months up to March this year, just 1,667 Syrian nationals were granted humanitarian protection under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. By comparison, Canada settled 25,000 Syrian refugees in three months, between November 2015 and February 2016.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron said:

"The crisis is one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of our lifetime. It is time the Prime Minister stood up and used Britain's power to change attitudes and save lives.

"He must not turn his back on the world's most vulnerable and should lead the response in the European Union rather than run away from it, but we are paralysed by a campaign too afraid to talk about refugees.

"Thousands of men, women and children are dying as they desperately flee war. People are not risking their lives, clinging to rafts or lorries in hope of a welfare payment, they are doing it because they believe it's their last attempt to survive.

"It's folly to think that this crisis goes away if Britain votes to leave. We will only solve it by working closely with our neighbours within the European Union.

"I do not want a successful campaign to stay in Europe overshadowed by further division in society, stoked by fear tactics straight out of Donald Trump's playbook.

"The language, the lies, the ignorance coming from some leave campaigners needs to be challenged. If the PM and other remain campaigners aren't prepared to do so, that I and the Liberal Democrats will."