Conservative MPs must back amendments to ban child detention

EMBARGO: For Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have urged Conservative MPs to back amendments to the illegal migration bill to uphold the ban on the detention of children for immigration purposes.

It comes after former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland this morning suggested the Bill would have to be watered down to avoid a Conservative backbench rebellion.

The Liberal Democrats ended the previous Labour Government's practice of detaining children for immigration purposes in 2011.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said:

“It is all very well for Robert Buckland and other Conservative MPs to wring their hands on the backbenches about how dreadful this Bill is.  But last night they voted for it so their actions so far do not match their words. Sooner or later they will have to put up or shut up.

“If Conservative MPs are serious about opposing these plans, they should back our attempts to prevent the locking up of innocent children fleeing war and violence.

“This cruel and ineffective legislation will do nothing to tackle people smugglers and traffickers, instead it will criminalise their victims. Passing this Bill would be a betrayal of our longstanding British values of offering sanctuary to refugees and helping those in need.”

ENDS