Michael Fabricant

Lichfield’s MP insists it’s important that the UK is “getting the numbers right” in order to deal with the impact refugees could have on overstretched public services.

Michael Fabricant’s comments come after he was one of 294 MPs who voted against Britain taking in 3,000 child refugees from Syria.

The Conservative MP defended his decision, insisting it was important support for people fleeing conflict was delivered in the most effective way.

Michael Fabricant MP

“It’s never easy to be objective when dealing with emotive subjects particularly like child refugees,” Mr Fabricant said. “The context is the UK is second only to the US in the total amount of aid we are giving in this Syrian humanitarian crisis – £2.3billion of taxpayers’ money.

“And the Government provides the most aid of all nations within the refugee camps in France, Greece, Turkey and other locations.

“However, I believe in the strategy sets out to provide aid at source and deter people smugglers who ply their evil trade of getting rich quick by providing overcrowded boats that sink while fuelling the dream that migrants and refugees can come to the UK – their number one destination. The UK not only provides a safe haven but free social and health care to migrants.

“In my judgment, this policy of providing aid in the camps deters human slave traffickers and protects the safety of overstretched public services – including the NHS – and British citizens. So getting the numbers right is important as Germany is only now discovering.

“Meanwhile, Lichfield District Council has played its part by providing accommodation for some of the genuine refugees who have made it to our shores.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

19 Comments
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Darryl
7 years ago

Paragraphs of hyperbole.

You voted against child refugees, let that sink in.

Todd
7 years ago

Not seen many of what we would usually describe as ‘children’ amongst the intake so far.

Rob
7 years ago

The one’s complaining about economic migrants being refused entry are also moaning about NHS waiting times.
Strange people.

Mat
7 years ago

Yeah lets blame immigrants for the massive underfunding of local services. Lets blame them for stealth privatisation of our health and education services. Well single mothers, homeless people, new age travellers have had their turn so immigrants are the next in line. How about blaming the ideology that burns £20 notes in front of homeless people.

Rob
7 years ago

Seems after encouraging them all in Merkel’s now paying them to go back.
Go figure.
Hope you’re right about the privatisation claims but seems like too much public spending is going on Gordon Brown’s PFI liabilities.

Chris
7 years ago

So we promised to take in 3000 child refugees but had to quit after 350 cos the extra 2650 added to a population of 65 million would have brought our underfunded public services to its knees.

Mat
7 years ago

@Rob- not sure what you are your point is but feel free to spell it out.

Toast
7 years ago

Horrible, horrible man.

Agitatorofpeople
7 years ago

“it was important, support for people fleeing conflict was delivered in the most effective way” Michael Fabricant MP Lichfield.

“the most successful coffee business anywhere in the world as measured by customer preference and return on investment” Costa Coffee vision statement.

Kids lives reduced to meaning about as much as an empty paper coffee cup, by our vacuous excuse of an MP.

Sj
7 years ago

Has anyone actually seen any child refugees ,the ones I’ve see all seem to be males in their mid twenties

Rob
7 years ago

I haven’t seen any refugees of any age, only economic migrants.
Must admit the beards look good along with their satchels and school blazers.

Agitatorofpeople
7 years ago

If you are referring to Refugee age reporting from the Sun/Mail/Express/Star etc, our press reporting has come in for considerable criticism abroad, and Michael Fabricant MP must of had his twitter feed switched off when there was a stream of photos with messages like this:-

Me at 16. Do you think I look young enough to be treated like a human? #Calais #RefugeesWelcome

Don’t be fooled into hate. Kids are now living in fear of rape, or being trafficked because of the vote cast by our MP.

Sj
7 years ago

Hate the word imidiatly used to intimidate anyone who thinks enough is enough ,we have children of our own in their thousands without homes ,war veterans living on the streets i like many others think it’s time to put British homeless first and foremost

Rob
7 years ago

@Agitator.
I observed refugee age reporting on the TV news, at least I did until the large screens were erected in Croydon to prevent anyone seeing what the “children” actually looked like.
As for kids now living in fear of rape – kids were actually continually raped, and trafficked “like pieces of meat” in Rochdale, Rotherham and other English towns, for years. Not because of votes, because of a blind-eye being turned by the local labour councils for the good of the project.

John Griffin
7 years ago

Since almost all people trafficking in this country and in the EU is by white gangs, your point?

Agitatorofpeople
7 years ago

SJ, you are quite right as a veteran of wars, I can fully understand your position, we are not looking after our own people. Whether ex services, homeless children or elderly not receiving the care they need, this government is throwing them to the wolves, certainly not the Britain I joined up to help defend.
Having been involved first hand with the worst that humanity has to offer in war zones, where we as a country have made the decision to be involved 24/7 365 at massive expense and military resource, is it so hard to extend a hand to a few thousand kids that have lost everything? are we so devoid of humanity that we can’t assist?

Mat
7 years ago

You really are an item Rob! If you could only back up what you say/ or infer, with scrap of evidence I’d be more inclined to half listen. As far as I’m aware, many of the failings in the towns you cite were as much down to different institutions and organisations not coordinating their efforts. You do actually highlight an important point in totally the wrong context. We do need to get our act together and start to have state controlled social services, whose job it is to take control when such things happen. What we actually have is a fragmented- ad hoc approach where no one takes control. Probably due to successive cut backs in front line services. So, to the context. What do we do about children in Calais and Dunkirk, who are at risk of traffickers? Turn our backs when we said we wouldn’t?

Rob
7 years ago

Here Mat:
https://rotherhampolitics.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/joyce-thackers-priority-find-the-whistle-blower/
I’m sure you can carry out your own research on muslim rape gangs and their enablers if you were minded to but it’s a start.
See you got the “cut backs” in, I’m shocked.
I’m sure Lily Allen will solve the problems in France so we won’t have to concern ourselves.

Mat
7 years ago

So you agree with me then? There was a failing in the institutions designed to effect protection? I hasten to add, albeit too late for the poor kids involved, that the gang of ” men” ( you negate to mention this) have been brought to justice.
So I congratulate you for being specific on the first point, but as with so many other populist reactionaries, very skimpy on the second point which you brush off with a joke. I and many others don’t see child safety as a joke, whatever colour or creed they are. I hope that if one day my child were abroad and in need that someone might show some compassion.