Let’s not play politics with lives

Hearing the facts and seeing photographs first-hand underlined what is the harrowing and totally unacceptable treatment of enormous numbers of human beings.

There have to be safe routes for these desperate families who have no choice.

We should sign up to the EU asylum policy and accept our share of vulnerable refugees.

We need to work with other countries to establish safe and sustainable reception centres to provide the desperately needed shelter and security.

Lib Dems have called on the government to provide financial support to our local authorities to help settle refugees.

In a letter to your paper last week I was challenged to provide Lib Dem policies about the refugee crisis.

I can say we have robust and coherent policies on this issue, sadly not reported by the national media.

I’m proud that when in government the Lib Dems ended the disgraceful practice of detaining innocent immigrant children, but were blocked from wider reforms by Theresa May.

But most urgent now is that this issue should be above politics.

We cannot collectively shrug our shoulders and say it’s all too difficult or nothing to do with us.

Let’s not play politics with this appalling humanitarian crisis.

Cllr Sue Prochak

Salehurst and Robertsbridge

Rother District Council

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