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Benedict Cumberbatch wants to discuss refugee crisis with Theresa May after claiming Government isn't doing enough

“To say 20,000 [refugees] over five years, when 5,000 are arriving in one day on one island - we’ve all got to wake up.”

Chris Mandle
Monday 12 October 2015 10:26 BST
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Sherlock returns on New Years' Day
Sherlock returns on New Years' Day (Getty Images)

Benedict Cumberbatch has said he wants to meet with Home Secretary Theresa May to discuss the refugee crisis, claiming the Government isn’t doing enough to help.

Cumberbatch was speaking at the London Film Festival, where he was promoting his new film Black Mass, when he addressed the inadequate proposals Britain has put in place following the refugee crisis.

“No, government is not doing enough and I’m quite happy to say that,” Cumberbatch said.

“I’d like to sit down with Theresa May and get a full understanding of how her political economic model works of structuring an argument that there is virtually a zero degree of financial benefit from an immigrant population.”

May has spoken of narrowing the definition of ‘refugee’ in order to take “a tougher approach to those who do not need our help”.

And David Cameron has been criticised for his pledge to allow a total of 20,000 refugees into Britain over the next five years while other countries in the EU have taken in much higher volumes.

Germany’s government expects to give refugee to a million refugees this year alone, and plans to take half a million a year over the next few years.

“I think we need to do a lot more and we have to be careful and we have to do it in the right way, and maybe that’s what the Government would argue they’re doing,” Cumberbatch added.

“There’s just a huge crisis and not enough is being done about what is happening now.

“Yes, we need long term solutions and yes it’s a good idea to get people out of camps so they don’t make the perilous journey, yes it’s a good idea to have a specific solution for them once they arrive here.”

“To say 20,000 over five years, when 5,000 are arriving in one day on one island - we’ve all got to wake up.”

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