If we have the resources to bomb Syria, we surely have the resources to help 3,000 refugee children

These are children who remain unaccompanied, scared and left vulnerable to exploitation because the country they once called home is rained down upon by British bombs

(BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Sir Nicholas Winton was a British humanitarian responsible for rescuing children from Czecholsovakia on the eve of the Second World War. His operation, dubbed “Kindertransport”, arranged for children, mainly of Jewish descent, to be moved to Britain to be saved from the atrocities of war-torn Europe. A man who wished to shy away from the limelight, Sir Winton’s work went unnoticed for almost forty years before the world found out about the “British Schindler.”

Upon his passing in 2015, David Cameron paid tribute saying: “The world had lost a great man and we must never forget Sir Winton’s humanity in saving so many children from the Holocaust.” Fast forward less than twelve months, and dare I say it, Sir Winton would be turning in his grave knowing that Mr Cameron’s Tory government just voted against allowing 3,000 child refugees fleeing Syria safe passage into Britain, destroying the legacy he worked so hard to build for the UK.

That’s right, the Tory government who unanimously voted to bomb Syria, rejected proposals by Lord Alf Dubs, one of the many children who benefitted from “Kindertransport”, to accept 3,000 unaccompanied children who have fled the country we are currently attacking. Sir Winton’s work is a proud of example of why the UK has always been near the top of people’s list as a safe haven for those suffering from oppression and yesterday the Tories marked an end to this. Only five Tories were brave enough to rebel against their party’s wishes and vote in favour of the motion, that’s only five Tories who thought we should respect the legacy of Sir Winton and help innocent children who have been left stranded because of the war we have played a major role in.

We aren’t talking about the “swarm of people” as David Cameron so eloquently described them, we are talking about innocent children. Children, who remain unaccompanied, scared and left vulnerable to exploitation because the country they once called home is rained down upon by British bombs and drone strikes.

But do the Tories really care? Minutes after the Government initially voted to bomb Syria the Commons was filled with laughter. MPs shared light hearted moments after they effortlessly voted to go to war, condemning millions to a life of constant fear and death. Yesterday, there was no laughter, instead shouts of “for shame” rang through parliament as the results of the vote were released. Shame is exactly what the 294 MPs who voted against the proposals should feel.

Shadow immigration minister, Keir Starmer, was right to say history will judge the UK for this. This is nothing short of inhumanity and goes against everything this country stands for. The Tories cannot shy away from the responsibility of the aftermath of Syria after deeming it necessary to take military action. If we have the resources to bomb Syria, we have the resources to help innocent children who face the repercussions of those actions. The Tories need to take a step back and remember who they are supposed to be representing. I think it’s fair to say the most of us would have been proud to know that our government had taken steps to save 3,000 child refugees. But that would be too naïve wouldn’t it? This is Tory Britain and David Cameron’s compassionate Conservatism has struck again.