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Hull MP calls for all local areas to do their fair share on Syrian crisis
Diana Johnson MP
08/09/15, 00:00
Hull North MP Diana Johnson has called on councils around the Humber to follow Hull in taking their fair share of those fleeing for their lives from Syria.
The most recent figures from the House of Commons Library show that Hull had taken 261 asylum seekers in the second quarter of 2015.
However, the local authorities in the East Riding and North Lincolnshire had each taken none; and North East Lincolnshire had taken only one.
The Labour MP's call comes after the Prime Minister's latest comments today on the refugee crisis, when he said that there are "no limits" (see http://bit.ly/1L1f3SM) to the number of Syrian asylum seekers coming to the UK over the next year.
On Monday, the Prime Minister had suggested that 20,000 would be allowed over the next five years.
On Monday, Diana Johnson MP questioned the Prime Minister on the Home Office's failure to respond to Hull City Council's offer to help Syrian refugees see http://goo.gl/3zcKNI.
The Hull North MP will today (Wednesday 9 September) be handing in a 1,200 name petition to the Commons of Hull people expressing solidarity with Syrian refugees. The names were mostly collected at last weekend's Freedom Festival in Hull.
Diana Johnson MP said: "Due to the barbaric conduct of ISIS and the Assad regime, we are seeing the biggest movement of refugees fleeing for their lives around Europe in the 70 years since the Second World War.
"Almost four million Syrians have left their homes and crossed the border. This crisis has brought out the best in many people around Europe. This includes Hull where many local people have come forward offering help.
"For the past decade, Hull City Council has taken part in the Home Office's Gateway Programme to resettle vulnerable refugees and has now offered to help with the Syrian crisis. We need other local authorities in our area and around the country and our Government - to do their fair share as well - and do it now.
"If Hull can do it, so can the East Riding and others."
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