An open letter to my MP who voted to turn away 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees from the war in Syria
Dear Jane Ellison MP,
When I travel from your constituency where I live to visit family members outside London, I pass through Liverpool Street station. Perched near the steps that bring you up from the Underground is a statue so modest that most commuters pass it without a second glance. Yet its humility belies the extraordinary events and lessons of history that brought it there.
I first noticed the statue because one of the two figures was a solemn looking young girl, about the same age as my daughter. Instinctively I wondered why she looked so sad and it became quickly obvious. The work by sculptor Flor Kent, is a memorial to the Kindertransport, whereby ten thousand unaccompanied Jewish children escaping persecution in Germany, Austria and other places under Nazi control or threat, arrived at Liverpool Street before being given homes by British families and foster parents. The artwork’s title is ‘Fur Das Kind – Displaced’ (simply, for the displaced children). Its plaque says it commemorates, ‘the greatness of ordinary people in extraordinary times.’
For good reason, each year in Britain we gather not just to remember lives that were lost in the vast wars of the last century, but also to learn their lessons, and how to try and be better human beings.
When I heard that you and 293 other members of parliament voted against a cross-party amendment to the immigration bill, calling on the UK to accept just three thousand unaccompanied child refugees from the war in Syria, the image of that statue came instantly to mind.
In voting against the amendment I believe you failed to learn from the lessons of the past about what is the right thing to do when cases of extreme humanitarian distress arise. You did not represent my views as a constituent and, worse, I feel you betrayed the better Britain that we have been before, and are all, regardless of party affiliation, capable of being now.
No one underestimates the challenge of caring for people (something made even harder by the current, wilfully chosen policies of austerity). But you will be aware that the great majority of refugees already flee to, and stay in, countries that are far, far poorer than Britain. Many more refugees, too, are given shelter in other countries of Europe. This is a question also of whether Britain can claim a government sufficiently competent and capable of living up to its responsibilities in the world it has helped create. If we cannot today care for three thousand unaccompanied child refugees, how will we manage in a world gripped by climatic upheaval and made even more unstable by extreme poverty and inequality? I invite you to reverse your decision, and find ways to restore the humanitarian initiative that you have helped derail.
The amendment to the immigration bill was tabled by Lord Alf Dubs, who himself benefited from the Kindertransport. Outside the railway station that I pass through with my daughter to visit my mother, who lived through the war, is a second memorial statue by Frank Meisler. In 1939 he was one of the children who arrived at Liverpool Street, saved by the Kindertransport. On his sculpture there is a line from the Talmud that reads, ‘Whoever rescues a single soul is credited as though they had saved the whole world.’
Yours,
Andrew Simms
Thanks Andrew- it struck me yesterday that I felt almost nauseous at the recollection of pomp and circumstance around remembering the pains and losses of wars in 2014 when we seem to have learnt so very little and can only draw up our bridges in the face of the needs of fleeing people . but to hear those same spurious arguments against babies and children and young minors is utterly dreadful.
I’d hazard a guess this letter mirrors the feelings of every decent person in this country! My thanks to you Andrew for expressing our feelings so eloquently! I will, if it’s OK with you, forward it to my MP whom I’m certain will have voted negatively!
I think you’ve probably got that right. I certainly feel disgust at how MPs have let us all down by their act of moral squalor.
Thank you, Andrew; you speak for me.
Can I pinch this letter to send to my MP (mid Worcestershire), who also voted against? You’ve expressed my sentiments about this issue perfectly.
Of course, please do.
Intensely moving. Sent it to my MP who also voted against.
To support lost children now made refugees seeking a place within our country to call home. This is simply a humane step to make. To help those displaced by war.
There are times when I am ashamed to be British, this is one such time. I live in a country that must have the most charity shops in the world and also sends billions of voluntary aid abroad each year. And yet our MPs vote for military strike action in Syria and months later the same MP’s vote not to take 3000 children who have escaped into Europe. How does this represent the view of the country. Surely if we are not going to take anywhere near the same number of Refugees as other European Countries, then rescuing children from the darker areas of unlawful profiteers is the next best humanitarian option.
I fear for the future of this country who seem riddled with Greed driven politics. If we become a closed boarder Island with few friends and allies, maybe the lives of these children will be better going to other nations. I sincerely hope they step up and show some humain spirit as ours appears to be being weeded out by our uncaring representatives in Westminster.
Thanks you Andrew – this is the piece I wrote for The National in Scotland today. Your open letter is very moving.
http://www.thenational.scot/news/alison-phippsgovernment-has-shut-the-door-on-3000-children-like-my-foster-daughter.16811
Thank you Andrew, you speak for me too. May I forward this to ‘my’ MP?
Thank you, and, yes, of course!
Excellent letter Andrew, thank you
Please can I also send to my MP in Harrogate who also
voted against. All day I have been trying to think what to do. Your words are so true and from the heart. What do our politicians believe they are doing? Certainly not representing most of us.
I’m very happy for you to forward the letter on. Let me know if you get a response!
Hi Andrew
I too forwarded your open letter to my local MP who also voted in favour of blocking the law that would enable child refugees access to the UK.
My MP has responded. Would you care to read her response?
Best
Yes please, that would be very useful and interesting.
I too will forward this to Andrew Jones!
And so it begins? A world that has lost the ability to care or give a damm!
What does it say about those that manage a world so vast with all the troubles and problems? It says that you all are in the wrong job,for to lack a heart of kindness is the most tragic tale of the leaders of the world with not one ounce of compassion.
Imagine you have failed our children of the world as you have failed the children of the U.K. Fact,why is it so difficult for you all to some understanding of what goes on around the world
The children you are failing did not ask for a war supported by the uk to displace them in such a terrible way and leave them without a family to care for them, tonight remember the children have a future ,those of you who let them down may not have future
So eloquently expressed, your thoughts mirror my own sentiments. May I forward to my MP who also voted against this act of humanity?
Yes, of course, and thank you for the kind words.
What a wonderful tribute to those that were saved from the holocaust, yet brings out the ignorance of the MP who voted against saving children who have been displaced in this decade. My question would it be through the fear of having 3,000 children of another faith, such as Islam, into the UK.? Only the MP knows that answer.
please may I forward your letter, to my MP, that speaks so simply but eloquently?
Please do!
I am in total agreement with all those decent people.I often despair that this government has changed us for the worst.
Please add me to the list of people for whom you speak in this letter. Our MPs should be profoundly ashamed. I will be sending the same sentiments to my MP who fundamentally does not represent my views but who should have a duty to do so. Thanks.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Brilliant letter….
I am so ******* angry with ******** that I well up inside and struggle to articulate my complete disgust at their simple lack of humanity.
Please share with us the reply you get back from Jane Elison, assuming she considers herself a public servant.