Refugees Daily - Internal Global Press Review

Boris Johnson is facing a mounting rebellion from Tory MPs who want to guarantee the rights of lone migrant children to seek refuge in the UK.

Six Tory MPs, including two former ministers, have put their names to a Labour amendment seeking to provide legal routes for unaccompanied children. Two schemes enabling them to claim asylum are coming to an end.

One route known as the "Dubs scheme", named after the former child refugee and campaigner Lord Dubs, was created in 2016 and allows lone minors with no family in the UK to resettle. However, it reached its 480-place capacity last month.

Child migrants with relatives already here will lose their right under EU law to be reunited with them when the Brexit transition period expires at the end of this year.

The amendment, which has the backing of Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, seeks to transfer existing EU protections into British law. Tory MPs who have signed the amendment include Andrew Mitchell, a former cabinet minister, Tim Loughton, a former children's minister, Fiona Bruce, Sir David Amess, Sally-Ann Hart and Simon Fell.

Yvette Cooper, the Labour chairwoman of the home affairs select committee who has tabled the amendment, said: "We must not lose all the hard work that has been done over the last few years to help child and teenage refugees reunite with family members who can care for them and give them back a future."

Mr Loughton said: "It is imperative that we have a firm commitment now that we will have a new scheme up and running for January 1."

Dr Williams was among 250 faith leaders who called on the prime minister to guarantee the rights of lone migrant children. In a letter, they warned that "very soon there could be no safe, legal routes for child refugees in Europe to seek sanctuary in the UK".

The government has insisted it will come up with measures to "provide protection to those who need it", but has declined to say what they are.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a long tradition of providing safety to those who claim asylum. This will not be affected by our exit from the EU. We will continue to provide protection to those who need it. We remain committed to negotiate new, reciprocal arrangements for the family reunion of unaccompanied children."