A CUMBRIA MP has slammed the government for blocking moves to allow 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees to settle in Britain.
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and Liberal Democrat leader, has accused the government of turning its back on the UK's humanitarian legacy, following last night's vote in the House of Commons.
An amendment to the Immigration Bill to allow 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees already in Europe, mostly from Syria, into the country was defeated by 294 to 276.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Farron said: "10,000 children have disappeared across Europe, 10,000 children that European leaders, including our own prime minister, have failed to protect.
"We must do our part to protect the vulnerable, do our part to overcome the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.
"In the past, Britain has consistently stood up for the best in human nature - it has opened its doors with the Kindertransport to those escaping Nazi brutality and again to Ugandans fleeing Idi Amin's brutal regime.
"We have seen these values in action right here in South Lakeland, with the Windermere Boys, taken in after the Second World War.
"The government have closed their eyes to those in need."
In recent weeks, Mr Farron has visited refugee camps in Greece, meeting agencies dealing with the crisis.
Jamie Reed, MP for Copeland, and John Woodcock, MP for Barrow and Furness, also voted in favour of the amendment last night.
Revised amendment
The amendment was put forward by Lord Dubs and has now been effectively killed off due to it being certified as "engaging financial privilege". This means the House of Lords has no choice but to back down after it was rejected by the Commons.
It is expected that Lord Dubs will propose a revised amendment that removes the reference to 3,000, instead asking the government to resettle a "specified number" of lone child refugees to be determined in consultation with local councils.
Opposition
Immigration minister James Brokenshire told MPs that Britain should not take in children from Europe because it could encourage others to make risky journeys into the continent with people traffickers and on dangerous sea crossings.
A handful of Tory MPs raised concerns in the debate over the government's position and Heidi Allen, one of the leading critics, said after the vote that she had abstained, describing it on Twitter as "the hardest decision".
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