Government forced to let thousands of child refugees into Britain

THOUSANDS of child refugees are to be let into Britain – against the Government's wishes.

MIGRANT CRISIS: Peers voted for an amendment to Cameron's bill

The House of Lords last night voted to allow 3,000 unaccompanied youngsters into the UK, with peers calling it a "beautiful" move.

They tabled an amendment to David Cameron's Immigration Bill as Europe struggles to deal with the growing migrant crisis.

But peers rejected a move to set up a refugee settlement plan for families torn apart by the conflict in Syria.

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Lord Dubs, who was rescued from the Nazi regime in the 1930s, insisted Britain needed to show the same compassion now.

He said: "I would like other children who are in a desperate situation to be offered safety in this country."

And the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, said: "This is a small but beautiful thing that we can do."

HISTORIC MOVE: Rev Stephen Cottrell called the decision 'beautiful'

Lord Alton of Liverpool said if Britain turned its back on such children it would be a "lasting stain" on its reputation.

He said the Government had done little since claims last year that at least 10,000 children had disappeared in Europe.

He added: "Thousands of child migrants have simply vanished in Europe while we have argued about how many angels can sit on the top of a pin."