The floodgates have opened as dozens of Labour MPs demand yet another huge policy concession.
Dozens of Labour MPs are demanding that Keir Starmer allows a flood of Palestinian refugees into the country, in a move that could jeopardise Britain’s security. The weakened Prime Minister who opened the floodgates to backbench rebellions last week, is facing calls to “urgently” establish a Ukraine-style visa for Gazans with family in the UK to come to Britain.
A total of 67 MPs and Lords have called on the PM and the Home Secretary to help “reunite [Palestinians] with their loved ones in the UK until it is safe to return. Just as the UK opened its doors to those fleeing persecution in Ukraine and Hong Kong, we believe that the same generosity should be extended to Palestinian families,” The letter was signed by a whopping 35 Labour MPs and Lords, including Marsha de Cordova, Clive Lewis, Stella Creasy, Richard Burgon, Kim Johnson, Afzal Khan, Rachael Maskell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Andy Slaughter and Alex Sobel
Keir Starmer is facing another backbench rebellion (Image: Getty)
It also garnered the support of suspended Labour MPs including Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, as well as the Greens, LibDems and some Northern Ireland MPs.
Last year a similar scheme was floated, a former British military chief said such a scheme would be unworkable and a huge threat to the UK’s domestic security.
The Tories blasted the proposal, with shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp telling the Express: “Neighbouring Arab countries refuse to take in people from Gaza so I don’t see why the UK should do so. Many people in Gaza also openly cheered and celebrated on the streets when Hamas murdered, raped and kidnapped innocent women, children and civilians on October 7th.”
“It was deeply troubling that so many citizens of Gaza enthusiastically celebrated these atrocities. There are also questions about how Hamas supporters and members would be prevented from entering the UK under a scheme like the one proposed.
“The UK has recently seen stratospheric levels of immigration and the highest level of asylum claims in over two decades. We simply don’t have the capacity to take in yet more people.”
Former senior military intelligence officer Philip Ingram told GB News last year that it would be impossible to properly verify whether those taking part in the scheme were Hamas operatives or radical extremists.
He explained: “With Hamas inexorably integrated into the population it would be very difficult to identify who is Hamas and who isn’t Hamas…”
“The threat to the UK by allowing people in who we cannot necessarily confirm exactly who we are is far too great.”
A scheme could prove a huge security risk (Image: Getty)
Asked if we could mitigate threats by only allowing in women and children, he pointed to Shamima Begum as a proof that women are just as capable of being members of brutal terror groups as men.
Mr Ingram also said the scheme was unworkable in the first place as there’s no way for people in the Gaza Strip to leave, either through Egypt, Israel or other neighbouring Arab countries.
Nor is there a British consulate in the patch of land, meaning foreign office staff couldn’t help on the ground.
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, who helped organise the letter told Sky News: “The Ukrainian Family Visa Scheme was the right response to a brutal war.”
“Establishing a Gaza Family Visa Scheme would be an extension of those same principles, showing that this government is steadfast in its commitment to helping families experiencing the worst horrors of war.
“It is time for the government to act now to help British Palestinians get their loved ones to safety, enabling them to rebuild their lives.”
In February a British judge caused outrage when he ruled that a Gaza family could come and settle in Britain under the provisions of the Ukraine refugee scheme.
A Palestinian family of six were granted the right to live in the UK after judge combined the Ukraine family refugee scheme with Article 8 of the ECHR guaranteeing a “right to family life”.
