Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, has urged the UK to prepare to welcome 240,000 refugees, arguing that Britain has a 'humanitarian responsibility' to take in one in eight of the two million people fleeing conflict in Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Syria. The figure is equivalent to the population of Wolverhampton.
Speaking as the government considered plans to accept fewer than 10,000 additional refugees, Bennett acknowledged the number 'sounds daunting' but insisted it was feasible. She noted that 240,000 would represent one refugee for every 266 Britons, an increase of just 0.4% in the population.
Bennett criticised the UK for being a 'foot-dragger' on the world stage, pointing to Britain's status as the world's sixth-richest economy and its role in creating the 'political and military chaos' from which many refugees are fleeing. She called on the government to live up to the country's 'proud tradition of providing refuge'.
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to accept 'thousands more' Syrian refugees from UN camps, expanding an existing resettlement scheme. However, the number is expected to be in the 'thousands not the tens of thousands', with the UN suggesting the UK will take 4,000 more.
The Green Party's proposal would see the UK take 12% of the two million refugees, based on Britain's 60 million population accounting for 12% of Europe's total. Bennett argued that the British public, through petitions and offers of help, have shown they are prepared to take on their responsibilities.
