Five days ago EU leaders held an emergency meeting to tackle to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. Very few solutions came out of the meeting and the crisis continues to escalate. Yet Labour’s 100 days action plan on immigration, launched today (28 April), fails to recognise this humanitarian emergency happening on our doorstep.
Commenting on Labour’s 100 days action plan on immigration, Stephen Hale OBE, Chief Executive of Refugee Action said:
“Last week we witnessed an unprecedented tragedy on the shores of Europe. More than 1,500 men, women and children lost their lives trying to reach safety in Europe. Many were fleeing unimaginable horrors and were risking their lives in search of protection.
“We welcomed Ed Miliband’s strong call last week for a rapid response in the Mediterranean. Yet today, less than five days since EU leaders gathered in Brussels for emergency talks, the Labour leader launches an immigration plan which fails to even recognise the mounting crisis, let alone offer any practical solutions.
“Labour’s pledge to end indefinite detention of people in the asylum system is welcome, as is their commitment to uphold our tradition and obligations on refugees. But if that is truly the case we urgently need to see a commitment that addresses how Britain will play its part in tackling the worst refugee crisis since the end of the Second World War.”