• View Digital Editions
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising
Menu
  • View Digital Editions
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising
Search
Close
Biscuit-Logo-60px-high
Weekender-logo-60px-high
Print
South-Londoner-logo-300px.jpg
  • News
  • Comment
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
  • South Londoner
  • Bermondsey Biscuit
  • History
  • Public Notices
  • Digital Editions
Menu
  • News
  • Comment
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
  • South Londoner
  • Bermondsey Biscuit
  • History
  • Public Notices
  • Digital Editions
Home News Politics

Neil Coyle slams government treatment of Afghan families of Southwark constituents

Kit Heren by Kit Heren
24th November 2021
in Politics
0 0
0
Neil Coyle slams government treatment of Afghan families of Southwark constituents

Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP Neil Coyle

4.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Neil Coyle has hit out at the government for its “incompetent” handling of the Afghan refugee situation, which he claimed resulted in the deaths of constituents’ family members.

The MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark told the News that he had received applications from 106 constituents for help getting family members from Afghanistan to the UK, but that just six people had been successfully repatriated. Some more may be en route.

He criticised the Foreign Office and the Home Office for their “incompetence and neglect”, claiming that staff did not even open correspondence on some vital cases, which, he added, resulted in some constituents’ family members being “murdered by the Taliban”.

Southwark MPs at loggerheads with government over handling of Afghanistan crisis

Coyle said: “Southwark has a global reach and it doesn’t surprise me for a second that events in Afghanistan have local ramifications. The UK Government’s humiliating capitulation to the Taliban has already affected people in Southwark and their families, often those who protected or worked for our armed forces, diplomats and charities.

“They are very fearful [of] what the Taliban will do now and we must all be mindful of the re-emergence of organisations like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Daesh in Afghanistan and their global reach as we have seen internationally and at London Bridge previously.”

The government has promised to open a formal resettlement scheme for Afghans in the UK, but has failed to provide an update on when it will start. The plan was announced as the Taliban took control of the country in August, but last week Home Office minister Victoria Atkins could still not confirm when it would be ready.

Southwark MPs call on government to step up Kabul evacuation and provide ‘generous’ resettlement offer to at-risk Afghans

The government has said it would take 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, including 5,000 in the first year.

Coyle added: “The Government is just one bad con after another but this one has contributed to lives being lost and our armed forces being put in great and avoidable danger. In normal times, Ministers would resign in shame but this is a shameless administration of utter charlatans.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We undertook the UK’s biggest and fastest emergency evacuation in recent history, helping over 15,000 people to safety from Afghanistan who we are continuing to support.

“The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is one of the most generous schemes in our country’s history and will give up to 20,000 further people at risk a new life in the UK.

“We continue to work at pace to open the scheme amid a complex and changing picture, working across government and with partners such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to design the scheme.”

Peckham Levels to host huge club night fundraiser for Afghanistan

The Foreign Office was also contacted for comment but did not respond in time for publication.

Some Afghan refugees have been settled in Southwark, with the News reporting on a Covid outbreak at one centre in September.

Meanwhile Coyle has a special surgery with Afghan people this Friday (November 23).

Tags: Neil CoyleNeil Coyle MPAfghanistan
Previous Post

Bermondsey and Rotherhithe charities team up to give Christmas presents to children in need

Next Post

Three young Bermondsey brothers thanked for helping girl who was having a fit on the street

Next Post
Three young Bermondsey brothers thanked for helping girl who was having a fit on the street

Three young Bermondsey brothers thanked for helping girl who was having a fit on the street

Stay Connected

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Popular Articles

Southwark Crime Snapshot: What were Southwark’s most lawless areas in March?

Bermondsey man charged with sex offence denied bail

15th August 2022
Bakerloo line extension

Could the possible new TfL deal mean the Bakerloo Line Extension is revived?

29th July 2022
The battle to get Bermondsey its own Tube station

The battle to get Bermondsey its own Tube station

15th August 2022
Southwark Crime Snapshot: What were Southwark’s most lawless areas in March?

Bermondsey man pleads not guilty to child sex charge

3rd August 2022
Longstanding small business owner kicked off Rotherhithe site with private block set to be built

Longstanding small business owner kicked off Rotherhithe site with private block set to be built

12th August 2022
New private twelve-storey tower block approved on Rotherhithe New Road despite light impact

New private twelve-storey tower block approved on Rotherhithe New Road despite light impact

26th February 2022

Featured Articles

The battle to get Bermondsey its own Tube station

The battle to get Bermondsey its own Tube station

15th August 2022
The Village Fete in Bermondsey is back

The Village Fete in Bermondsey is back

13th August 2022
Killer of Jobari Gooden convicted of manslaughter for ‘frenzied’ broad daylight knife attack

Killer of Jobari Gooden convicted of manslaughter for ‘frenzied’ broad daylight knife attack

13th August 2022
The local line-up for your diary

Pick of family events this summer in south London

12th August 2022
Imperious Sam Curran steers Oval Invincibes to thrilling Hundred win

Imperious Sam Curran steers Oval Invincibes to thrilling Hundred win

12th August 2022
Exclusive: Maydew House: Southwark Council spent £3 million on two attempts to remove estate asbestos, four years apart

Exclusive: Maydew House: Southwark Council spent £3 million on two attempts to remove estate asbestos, four years apart

11th August 2022

USEFUL PAGES

  • Signup for our Newsletter
  • The Paper
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

LEGAL

  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertising
  • Accessibility
  • Modern Slavery Statement

© 2022 Southwark News

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Accessibility
  • Advertising
  • Biscuit Home Page
  • CONTACT US
  • Contribute
  • Cookie Policy
  • Developer Test Page
  • Home
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • News at Den
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Please contribute and help us to keep providing you with local news
  • Privacy
  • SN Style Guide
  • Terms of Use
  • Test Page
  • Thanks for signing up for our newsletter

© 2022 Southwark News

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In