Government must not be allowed to blackmail Parliament on refugee centres
November 4, 2002 12:00 AM
A West Midlands Euro-MP has criticised claims by government ministers that opposition to the Nationality, Asylum and Immigration Bill may cause the French government to pull out of the deal to close the reception centre in Sangatte.
The Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne said:
“This is a case of the government, having lost the argument, attempting to bully the opposition into submission. If, as it would appear, the UK government made promises to the French government that they were in no position to make, then they have no-one but themselves to blame.”
The Asylum Bill has faced stiff opposition in the House of Lords, particularly over the government’s plans to introduce “reception centres” in rural areas such as Throckmorton in Worcestershire.
“The government’s plans are bad for the local people near Throckmorton and Pershore, but even worse for the refugees who will be abandoned there if this Bill goes through. Campaigners and politicians have a moral duty to oppose the government’s plans and should not be swayed by this latest attempt at blackmail,” Liz said.
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