www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/12/dunkirk-child-refugees-risk-sexual-violence

Something I was reading this morning. The British tabloid press led by the Mail when considering the refugee crises always talks in terms of the economy.

Everywhere else in Europe the press talks about the refugee crises in humanitarian terms.

Where are we going as a country? I think as I suggested yesterday, language and attitudes are being coursened.

"Several Conservative back-benchers were among the most scathing in their criticism of Ms Rudd. She is trying to “cut and run from child refugees”, according to colleague David Burrowes, and talking “utter rubbish”, says Tory MP Heidi Allen – who will support a judicial review on the decision.

It is certainly true that other countries in Europe and the Middle East could do more to help people escaping this humanitarian disaster on our doorstep. But since when has finger-pointing been the start of moral action?

Faced with the scale of suffering we see unfolding in Syria, the Dubs scheme is a mere token – but still a vital expression of our compassion, and a sign that Britain is not retreating from the world after Brexit. How many more children must die beneath the wheels of lorries heading to our shores?"

From an editorial in the i.
I agree with every word of it.

Anyone who is on twitter, this is a way to let Amber Rudd know what you think about the government's abandonment of the Dub's agreement.

www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/uk-government-abandons-commitment-to-accepting-una/

Sorry about above post it is on the wrong thread. I was just reading the posts and forgot I was on wrong thread to post my thoughts.

Must admit, there are certainly some individuals in this world with whom one wouldn't want any nearer than a barge pole. Absolutely shocking posts.

God I hope this government is making a better job of Brexit than than they have of understanding the law. Although I wouldn't hold your breath. Went out with some friends last night who were describing how Brexit is shaping up in the various government departments. Strewth!!!!

Don't bother quoting data, giving links or even sharing your own experience. It is clear that (in her eyes at least) Mair knows better than anybody. Her examples are relevant, her links up to date, her generalisations are always spot on and anything which does not chime with own perceptive observations has either been photoshopped, "misremembered", or is too specific/generalised (irrelevant which) to be worthy of consideration.
"Save your breath to cool your porridge" is what they say North of the Border and Mair might as well argue to an empty room for all the credence attached to any other opinion.
Appeals to better nature are equally doomed from the outset, and as for human charity? That clearly identifies the "holier than thou" or "globalist tyrants".
Flying from Juba to Heathrow, eh? Is she (perish the thought) herself perhaps an immigrant?

"The charity Help Refugees had already launched an application for Judicial Review for the government’s failure to properly implement the Dubs Amendment, back in 2016. The claim (brought by three barristers from Doughty Street, instructed by Leigh Day) asserts that the government failed to properly consult with local authorities as required by statute (as per Section 67.2 of the 2016 Act), and therefore both unlawfully and incorrectly calculated the number of children to bring. The case characterises the government’s figure as woefully low, and the claim won a pretty significant victory in December 2016: the court found that the Dubs Amendment was an additional obligation that the government did not meet by acting in accordance with EU law, specifically Dublin III above.

The next hearing for this case is actually today, in the High Court. This in an interesting one to watch in light of these recent developments, so watch this space!"

In which case, why did Amber Rudd announce yesterday that the government was going to stop bringing children in under the Dub's amendment?

www.helprefugees.org.uk/news/big-brands-come-forward-support-refugees/

www.helprefugees.org.uk/news/one-greek-hairdresser-helped-20000-refugees/

I'd much rather hear about these people who are helping refugees, than those like our government and the US who try all sorts of methods to evade their responsibility towards refugees.

It has also gone unnoticed until toda that the government has banned accepting disabled chid refugees as it says we cannot cope with them.
If we can't, who can?
Are they saying that they are better off where they are?
Apparently the Hoome Office has been refusing to consider applications from children with disabilities since at least the beginning of January.
A government with as much heart as someone else on this thread.

Remind me, Mair, do you have children or grandchildren?

Archbishop of Canterbury talking right now on BBCR4 about the moral reasons why it is very important to take in children stuck in EU because they will otherwise they will end up trafficked, exploited and abused. Also "Not fair to leave the burden of this on Greece and Italy"

im catching up after a longish break (for me)'a lot can be said in 24 hours. I was shocked by the way Mair delights in posting rude, dismissive posts, totally lacking in compassion. I try and avoid responding because its clear that Mair enjoys being the centre of attention, dominating discussions with unpleasant views.
I enjoyed reading your comment Anya, about having your horizons extended and a reminder why you don't mix with some people in RL
I wasn't a teacher but I spent forty years working with children and families I met a number of refugee/ asylum seeker children, from different parts of Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Without exception, they had experienced horrors we can only imagine. people often blame political correctness for closing down open debate about concerns about the best way to support those in need. What about the heartless, overly simplistic, coarse and callous points of view expressed by some. I'm sure that keeps many from the debate.

In the culture of India and Pakistan and I would imagine at least some parts of Afghanistan it is polite to address older men who are friends of the family as 'Uncle'. We knew an Indian chap quite well and DD said to him that he seemed to have a huge number of Uncles and he explained to her the custom. So maybe not quite so many relatives.

Oops! Hanging not banging

Just keeping paying out the rope and she'll keep on banging herself.

It's interesting to meet people like Mair on forums. It just goes to extend my horizons and to remind me the world is full of people I don't choose to mix with in RL.

Keep up the good work Mair

even if the parents and brothers and sisters were all killed by a bomb.
Gosh, you're all heart Mair

Holier than thou not " though"
Duh!

And why should they go back Mair?

Not knowing any of the details of the case none of us are in a position to say if they should go back or not Anya but of course theyre going to claim to have no relatives left in Afghanistan to strengthen their argument to remain. They'd be fools not to. I'd say their claim is almost certainly false, given the size of Afghan extended families (one of the highest birthrates in the world). They almost certainly have aunts and uncles even if the parents and brothers and sisters were all killed by a bomb.

No, don't bother to quote me in "bold" and launch into another of your swingeing diatribes mair

LOL Pot calling kettle black.

Your holier than though pontificating doesnt merit a response Mawb but I couldnt resist a fish in a barrel!

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Someone said last night that the language and attitude and values in the UK is being coursened. We were known throughout the world for our compassion and care. The creeping arrogant selfishness and and smug self satisfaction is an attitude with which I wish to have nothing to do with nor communication with.

What's good about this thread MawBroom is that it reveals this kind of unpleasantness to ordinary, kind hearted grandparents on this site, many of whom have teenaged grandchildren, or can remember being the parents of teenagers. Also many of us have also been secondary teachers and know that teenaged kids are not demons - they are vulnerable, funny and often inspiring.

While there will always be those who abuse a system I nevertheless find the smug, triumphalist tone of mair's post at 9.44 last night positively nauseating and entirelyl lacking in common humanity.
If that is UKIP's ethos what a dreadful indictment of where we have reached in society.
No, don't bother to quote me in "bold" and launch into another of your swingeing diatribes mair.
Such arrogant selfishness from the other side of the pulled-up drawbridge presents an ugly image. Nothing you say can do other than to reinforce that.

These particular boys appeared to be very quiet - they said they had no family at all left. They would not be accepted back as they will have had such a very different upbringing - they said they were still in touch with friends who had been sent back and who now had nowhere to live etc and the oldest one said many of them end up on Cocaine living under bridges.
Of course not seeing them or listening to them does give you a very good idea of what they are like!
Britain has there a young man who wants to be a doctor and work in UK hospitals - he will be British trained too - not going to some poor University somewhere in the back of beyond!

I do however agree that the policy should have been youngest children first.