25 April 2016
The Jewish News

One of Britain’ most prominent Rabbis and a refugee from Nazi Germany has called for 3,000 unaccompanied children to be allowed into the UK.

Rabbi Harry Jacobi, 90 called for a greater intake of refugee children, whilst backing an amendment to a refugee bill which was proposed by Lord Alf Dubs.

In a video message for ‘Help Refugees UK’, Jacobi, who was born in Nazi Germany before escaping to the UK, said: “I was a refugee from Nazi Germany, and now I am trying very very hard, to allow 3,000 unaccompanied children to come to England.”

He added: “I get very upset and very worried. There shouldn’t be any restrictions at all to saving lives when you can save lives.”

Jacobi met Lord Dubs, who is a Kindertransport child himself. and Labour’s Yvette Cooper in parliament.

Cooper said: “Almost 80 years ago Rabbi Harry Jacobi came to Britain as a teenager. Like Alf Dubs, his life was saved by the Kindertransport and he called on us to do more to help this new generation of lone child refugees today.”

Earlier today, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron claimed child refugees face sexual exploitation unless the Government is forced to admit thousands more unaccompanied youngsters into the country.

Ahead of the crunch vote in the Commons on Monday, at least ten Conservative MPs are believed to be poised to back an amendment to the Immigration Bill by Labour peer Lord Dubs, ensuring 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees must be admitted to the UK as soon as possible.