David Cameron is facing growing public and political condemnation or his refusal to open Britain’s doors to thousands of desperate refugees fleeing war and persecution.
The leaders of every political party in Britain apart from Ukip have called on the Prime Minister to reverse his hard-line stance and sign the country up to accepting our “fair share” of refugees.
Meanwhile a grassroots campaign has sprung up to organise demonstrations and petitions calling on the Government to accept Britain’s obligation to tackle the largest mass exodus of people since the Second World War.
Mr Cameron is also facing diplomatic pressure to change his stance. The German ambassador, Peter Ammon, was authorised to make a rare public intervention calling for Britain to do more. “Britain has taken in refugees for centuries,” said Mr Ammon. “With the humanitarian tradition that you have we should be able to find a solution here.”
The refugee crisis - in pictures
Yvette Cooper led the calls from all the Labour leadership candidates for Mr Cameron to change his stance.
“When mothers are desperately trying to stop their babies from drowning when their boat has capsized, when people are being left to suffocate in the backs of lorries by evil gangs of traffickers and when children’s bodies are being washed to shore, Britain needs to act,” she said. “It is heartbreaking. We cannot keep turning our backs on this. We can – and must – do more.”
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If these images don’t change Europe’s attitude, what will?
Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, added: “Enough is enough. These pictures are beyond horrific. They are the wake-up call David Cameron needs. There is a humanitarian crisis on our doorstep, but the UK Government appears disengaged, cold and irrelevant. We must take our fair share of refugees.”
In Scotland the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I think most people want to see the UK play their part in a humanitarian response,” she said. “Scotland will play a full part.”
Nicola Sturgeon, SNP leader: 'Scotland will play a full part' (Getty)
Her comments were backed by the leader of Plaid Cymru in Wales and the Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.
“The heart-wrenching scenes we’re seeing – of children being washed up dead on beaches, of people being detained en masse on trains, of thousands upon thousands risking their lives to come to Europe – serve as a reminder of our duty to help those in peril,” she said. “Britain can and must do more – it’s time for the Government to wake up to the cruelty of its stance and give many more refugees the chance to settle here.”
They were responding to comments earlier in the day by Mr Cameron who reiterated his position that the UK was already doing enough.
“I don’t think there is an answer that can be achieved simply by taking more and more refugees,” he said.
Read more: While the EU gropes for a response, Britain turns its back
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But his remarks led to a backlash on social media with thousands of people signing petitions condemning the Government’s stance.
Avaaz, the global activist organisation, teamed up with the charity Citizens UK to call for a “safe haven for Syrian refugees”. So far more than 1,300 people have pledged to volunteer to help integrate refugees into the British community, many offering accommodation in their own homes.
A petition calling for the Government to provide medical care to migrants in Calais was nearing its goal of 75,000 signatures after three weeks, while demonstrations are being planned in central London, Dover and Oxford at the weekend.
The Independent has launched its own petition calling for Britain to “accept its fair share of refugees”. Politicians also posed with placards stating: “Refugees welcome”.
Matthew Bolton, deputy director of Citizens UK, said: “We have seen a great interest [among] ordinary people saying they want to help. They are offering to lobby Government and even to open up their own homes. The groundswell is there, but sadly we’ve not seen a commitment from Government to match it yet.”
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