The Home Office has been accused of ignoring more than 1,400 offers from local councils to house child refugees, prompting criticism that Boris Johnson’s government is defying its obligations to offer sanctuary to vulnerable minors. It is estimated that about 200 child refugees are living in terrible conditions in northern France, with thousands more trapped in Italy and Greece, where camps are vastly overcrowded and conditions are described as dire. “This action is all the more inexplicable because we know there is broad public support for helping child refugees,” she said. Charities said they had detected a hardening of the Home Office approach to child refugees even before the bill was unveiled. “Protecting vulnerable children will remain our priority after Brexit and this new clause reaffirms our commitment while clarifying the role of parliament and government in negotiations.”

Source: The Guardian December 21, 2019 21:00 UTC