Teesside to 'lead the way' in helping refugees

Migrants and refugees in a rubber dinghy arriving on the beach at Psalidi near Kos Town in Greece. Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Local politicians have called for the Tees Valley to lead the way in helping refugees who have fled Syria, and set an example to the rest of the UK.

MPs and senior councillors have backed the Tees Valley to take in Syrian refugee families.

The MP for Redcar is writing to the Home Secretary, to urge the UK to take many more Syrian refugees, as long as the Syrian war and ISIL actions across the region continue.

Pete Widlinski, Tees Valley City of Sanctuary co-ordinator, said, "We have a proud and long reputation for welcoming refugees who have escaped persecution, torture and likely death into our community. Now that welcome and expertise is needed more than ever."

MPs Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough), Alex Cunningham (Stockton North), Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) and Iain Wright (Hartlepool) are all supporting the initiative alongside Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd, Stockton Council leader Bob Cook, Redcar and Cleveland Council leader Sue Jeffrey, and the Tees Valley of Sanctuary faith group.

Stockton councillor and cabinet member David Rose who is helping lead the cross-authority initiative said, "It's about time the government's actions reflected the compassion and concern shown by residents. With relatively small levels of additional grant funding we can offer a safe haven to people who have risked their lives in fleeing for their lives.

"We're prepared to step up and help save many hundreds of lives by taking in families escaping from a desperate war-torn country - now we need other councils around the country and the Tory government to do so as well."

Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton have a combined existing Home Office-set 'cluster limit' of 2,786 asylum seekers, yet June 2015 figures show there are fewer than 2,000 currently living here and awaiting a decision on their status.

However, Middlesbrough and Stockton are already two of the top three largest host local authorities for asylum seekers per head of population in the UK. Even distribution of refugees and funding 'per head', including housing and resettlement support grants, directly to the local authorities from the Home Office, are two key components of the initiative.