Former council leader's last-gasp letter to Worcestershire's decision-makers: You have a "moral duty" over Syrian refugees

A FORMER leader of Worcester City Council is urging Worcestershire's decision-makers to intervene in the Syria crisis - urging them to "do the right thing" in a key vote tomorrow.

Councillor Adrian Gregson has written a last-gasp open letter to Worcestershire County Council's leadership - and Worcester MP Robin Walker - pleading that Syrian refugees are taken in.

Earlier this month David Cameron responded to growing calls for help in announcing that the UK would accept 20,000 refugees by 2020, on top of an extra £100 million in humanitarian aid.

Tomorrow a full council meeting is taking place at County Hall where all 57 politicians will get to vote on a motion calling for Worcestershire to accept "a realistic number of refugees" and play a part.

The motion, drafted by Liberal Democrat Councillor Tom Wells alongside party colleagues and Green Party politicians, also calls upon the Conservative administration to lobby central Government for some funding and formally apply to the Home Office to be included in the relocation efforts.

Councillor Gregson, who leads Worcester's Labour group, has also called upon leading Conservatives to "distance" themselves from the remarks of Councillor Alan Amos, who last week called migrants a "swarm" and accused some of "jumping on the bandwagon".

In his letter to Councillor Adrian Hardman, the county council's leader, he says: "For the public, the refugee crisis has brought to the fore the moral duty for action on the part of Government and all local authorities.

"So far that action has been woefully lacking, certainly on the part of Government but also on your part in refusing to take in refugee families when asked in July.

"You now have a very real opportunity to do something positive to help.

"On behalf of thousands of Worcester residents, I urge you to take that opportunity."

He also says he is "seriously concerned" about the refugee crisis, calling the Prime Minister's response "dilatory".

The county council decided to reject a previous bid to assist in relocating 12 Syrian refugees in the summer due to fears over the costs.

The Home Office was only guaranteeing funding for an initial 12 months, leading to fears taxpayers would face an annual bill of around £150,000 afterwards, meaning it went no further.

Tomorrow’s motion asks councillors to "recognise the need for urgent action" and instruct County Hall to work with other authorities across Worcestershire in revisiting it.

A spokesman for the county council today said the authority's leadership would not be responding until the debate takes place.

The letter was also sent to Councillor Simon Geraghty, the deputy leader.

As of this afternoon 443 people have signed a petition by Councillor Wells urging the county council to help.

Mr Walker has already hit out at the "appalling humanitarian situation" in Syria and said he supports Mr Cameron's moves on it.

This evening, Mr Walker said: "I don't actually disagree with most of the motion, it's perfectly reasonable but I can't agree that David Cameron's response has been dilatory.

"The situation is evolving but we are actually doing a lot more than the other countries, this situation in the media where Germany is depicted as being very welcoming and Britain less so, is beginning to break down.

"I think everyone recognises we need to find long-term solutions and focus on what will work, not just open the doors and then find we've got so many people coming in that we've got to turn them away.

"With Alan Amos, I've read the article and the actual quotes strike me as being representative of his constituents, unlike other parties we don't have a Stalinist system of what people can or cannot say.

"We need a serious debate on this issue and it's too important to use it to make political points, the UK is actually leading the way as a country in responding.

"If the county council wants me to write to the Government again over the funding beyond the first year by all means, I'm happy to do so."

* To see our previous stories on the Syria debate in Worcestershire from earlier this month, including a poll, go HERE and HERE.

* Visit this website from 10am tomorrow for LIVE coverage of the meeting.