Northamptonshire MPs reject bid to offer refuge to Syrian children who had travelled to Europe

An amendment to the Government’s Immigration Bill was defeated by 294 votes to 276 after a lengthy debate in the House of Commons.

Among the 294 to vote against the amendment were Conservative MPs Peter Bone (Wellingborough), Philip Hollobone (Kettering), Tom Pursglove (Corby and East Northants), David Mackintosh (Northampton South), Michael Ellis (Northampton North), Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry) and Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire).

Ministers stated that they will be taking in 3,000 vulnerable children but they would look at camps closer to the conflict zone rather than those in Europe.

It had been hoped by the Labour group that a number of Conservative rebels would help overturn the Government’s slender majority and get the amendment passed.

But the amendment was defeated by a majority of 18.

MPs will vote on a fresh amendment next week asking for a commitment from the Government to take on child refugees with no specific total.