10 January 2020

Liberal Judaism is dismayed by the government’s failure to guarantee protection for the right of vulnerable child refugees to be reunited with aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, parents or grandparents who are in the UK. If this safe and legal route is closed, we fear lives will be lost as desperate young people resort to lorries and dinghies to reach their family members.

We urge the government to rethink their position and to reinstate within the withdrawal bill the commitment to protect the rights to family reunion as they are now after exiting the EU – and vow to keep campaigning on this vital issue.

• Statement written on behalf of Liberal Judaism by Rabbi Janet Darley