The prime minister has announced the UK will take in unaccompanied refugee children from Europe – but has yet to confirm how many.
David Cameron said yesterday he would no longer seek to overturn a Lords amendment to the Immigration Bill providing for the resettlement of a “specified” number.
He had previously insisted on only accepting children from camps in Syria and its neighbours, arguing to do otherwise would encourage others to put their lives in the hands of traffickers.
But now those who registered in Greece, Italy or France before the EU’s March 20 agreement with Turkey will be eligible to come to Britain.
The climbdown came after SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons for the second week running.
Mr Cameron, who had been facing a Tory backbench rebellion, said: “Because of the steps we are taking, it will not be necessary to send the (Lord) Dubs amendment back to the other place.
“The amendment does not now mention a number of people. We are going to go around the local authorities and see what more we can do, but let us stick to the principle that we should not be taking new arrivals to Europe.
“We are already taking child migrants in Europe with a direct family connection to the UK, and we will speed that up. I am also talking to Save the Children to see what more we can do.”
Moray MP Mr Robertson welcomed what he dubbed “the beginnings of a U-turn”, but added: “Why has it taken so long, and the threat of a parliamentary defeat, for the prime minister to begin changing his mind?”
Mr Cameron repeatedly insisted throughout the weekly exchange his intention to “stick to the principle that we should not be encouraging people to make this dangerous journey”.
He did not stipulate how many children who had succeeded in reaching Europe could now be admitted, but officials indicated later that the number would run to “more than tens”.
Without exact figures, campaigners who had been pressing the government to take up to 3,000 children from camps such as the Calais Jungle reacted cautiously to the change of heart.
Funding will reportedly be made available from central government for those councils willing to take in unaccompanied child migrants.
While the scheme is predominantly aimed at Syrians, the prime minister’s official spokeswoman said small numbers from other countries could benefit.