Oldham willing to help refugees

OLDHAM Council leader Jim McMahon says Oldham is willing to play its part in giving a home to refugees.

“This country must play its part alongside others to give safe refuge to those who need it — that’s about being a decent international neighbour,” said Councillor McMahon.

“Oldham is willing to play its part in this but the Home Office and Serco have presided over a system which has led to large concentrations of asylum seekers in some areas with other places failing to accommodate a fair share.

“As the UK must take its fair share, so must every region. Some places with populations around 500,000 now accommodate more asylum seekers than the whole of London and the South-East — which have a combined population of more than 17 million. The Government’s response to this international crisis has been embarrassing. We can and must do more.”