The UK is not flavour of the month in Europe. Our government were so out of step with the rest of the EU on the Syrian refugees crisis, it needed the UK public to remind them about the compassion and humanity we owe to our fellow human beings.
If ever we were in such dire straits, we would want our neighbours to come to our aid, not haggle about the terms and conditions of such help. Why there has not been a more concerted effort by EU member states to provide for the victims of war, and plan for their arrival on our shores is puzzling.
There is a huge difference between economic migration and those fleeing conflict zones. The fact that the UK has a history of formenting trouble in the Middle East, and then walking away, does little to promote our moral standing in world politics and diplomacy.
Luckily there are countries in Europe who recognise our duty to help refugees and have come to their aid. The time for short term relief is now, we can debate the bigger issues at our leisure.
odespinner 