MP urges stronger government action on refugee crisis

Llanelli Member of Parliament Nia Griffith released a statement (yesterday) condemning the negative attitude of some politicians and parts of the media with regards to the current refugee crisis and went on to show her support for a non partisan public vigil that’s being held later this month in Llanelli’s Spring Gardens.

Ms Griffith’s statement (in full) follows.

Many of you, will, like me, have been shocked, long before the events of this last week, at the appalling tragedy of refugees dying on the shores of Europe, and very disturbed at the negative attitude of some politicians and some sectors of the press. It is clear that many people in the UK would want to offer a welcome to refugees after the unimaginable hardship they have suffered, and are already contributing through established charities like Oxfam to the work that they are doing, both in the countries neighbouring the areas of conflict, and on the shores of southern Europe.

Here in Llanelli there has already been a positive response to join in a UK-wide campaign for churches and local organisations to show their support by displaying banners and signs on their buildings, as well as on social media with the simple logo #refugeeswelcome. You can also post pictures of yourselves holding a sign saying #refugeeswelcome. This is a particularly opportune time, as we return to Parliament this week, and European leaders prepare to meet again, as this will help to put pressure on government ministers, and show the refugees themselves that we do want to help, and want the UK to do more.

Together with church and community leaders, we are organising a non-partisan public vigil to take place at 6 pm on Thursday 17^th September in Spring Gardens. If anyone wants to participate in the shoebox appeal, they can leave things at my office at 6, Queen Victoria Rd, Llanelli and we will ensure that they are passed on to the correct channels.

I can assure you that I am using my time in Parliament this week to urge government ministers to make sure that the UK lives up to its long tradition of offering help and support to refugees, starting by attending a cross-party vigil in Westminster Hall on Monday morning and following up with parliamentary debate and questions.

Of course we do have people who need help in our own country and we must help them too, but they are largely problems of inequality and the need to redistribute wealth more fairly, and we remain a very rich country—the 20th wealthiest in the world and the sixth biggest economy. We are not only a wealthy country; we are still a very influential country and therefore should be taking a much more positive lead on the refugee crisis on the world stage.

We should be showing leadership on this issue, firstly as MPs here, and then together with our EU partners. In the case of Syria, Turkey has taken in 2 million refugees, Lebanon has 1 million (in a country with only four million people) and Jordan hundreds of thousands likewise. We should be working out there and taking our share of refugees directly, and thus avoiding people falling prey to the most dreadful exploitation and journeys, often ending in tragedy. We also need to help more in southern Europe.

If the UK upped the number of Syrian refugees it has taken from 200 to 10,000, this would mean some 600 for Wales, so 30 – 40 for Carmarthenshire – perhaps 7 or 8 families. These are enterprising people, who would, as soon as they are allowed, be wanting to work hard and contribute to our economy.

Working together with the other 27 EU countries, we could organise similar help on the borders of the handful of other countries where people are fleeing violence (where again it is the neighbouring countries ….. often very poor ones with enough of their own problems …… taking in the majority of refugees and desperately in need of help).

These are problems that are not going to be solved in a week:  I can assure you that I will continue to pursue this matter longterm.