Lib Dems to ask Shropshire Council to help settle refugees in Shropshire
The Liberal Democrat team on Shropshire Council is to ask councillors and officers to act urgently to help settle refugee families in the county.
The team says it does not believe that anyone, let alone a body with the expertise and resources of Shropshire Council, should stand idle while desperate refugees suffer and die as they flee war torn countries on the borders of Europe.
The request comes in the form of a motion to the Shropshire Council meeting on 24 September. It will be proposed by Andy Boddington, councillor for Ludlow North, and seconded by Andrew Bannerman, councillor for Coton Hill and Quarry in Shrewsbury.
Andrew Bannerman said: “We need to act quickly and flexibly. We are not suggesting that Shropshire takes in thousands of refugees. If we found homes for just ten families, that’s ten families rescued from a state of crisis.”
“Shropshire Council is a civic leader and has a lot of expertise. It should help shape our county’s response to this emergency. This crisis is not going to go away any time soon. Shropshire Council must play its part, as must all of us.”
Andy Boddington continues: “It is a natural instinct to think that it is someone else’s responsibility to deal with a crisis. Other countries. Other organisations. Other people. But the reality is that it is everyone’s duty to deal with extraordinary suffering like this. As just one council, one volunteer group or one individual we perhaps can’t achieve a huge amount. But as hundreds of councils, thousands of volunteer groups and millions of people we can make a really big difference.
“That’s why we will be asking Shropshire Council to back this motion at its next meeting. We are asking it to join councils, volunteer groups and individuals all over the country who are doing their bit to help refugees.”
