Moray MP Douglas Ross accused of "heartless" vote on child refugees by MSP Richard Lochhead
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MORAY'S SNP MSP Richard Lochhead has accused the area's Conservative MP Douglas Ross of coming across as "heartless and lacking in compassion" after a House of Commons vote on child refugees.
On Monday night, Douglas Ross was one of 327 MPs to vote in favour of removing an amendment which required the UK Government to ensure unaccompanied children across the European Union continued to be relocated with relatives in the United Kingdom.
A total of 265 MPs voted against removing the amendment, including six Tory rebels and all 46 SNP MPs.
Mr Ross said he voted to remove the amendment as the UK Government is negotiating a new agreement with the European Union and accused Mr Lochhead of "deliberately misrepresenting proceedings".
Mr Lochhead said the vote would not go down well in Moray.
Moray's SNP MSP added: “The decision by Douglas Ross MP to vote against allowing child refugees to be reunited with their parents comes across as heartless and lacking in compassion.
"Mr Ross’ actions are going down really badly with his constituents in Moray. Imagine being a young child separated from your parents in such circumstances. Can we not offer a little more humanity and decency?
“You only have to look at Mr Ross’ appalling voting record to see the true colours of our local Tory MP – it’s little wonder he wishes to talk about everything except the issues that are actually reserved to Westminster.”
Mr Ross said that he agrees child refugees should be supported, and pointed out that new legislation is being brought forward next year on the asylum system.
He added: "Richard Lochhead is deliberately misrepresenting proceedings.
"I fully agree that we should be supporting the vulnerable, and particularly unaccompanied child refugees. In fact, this government has protected 44,000 children since 2010 and is one of the highest recipients in Europe of asylum claims from unaccompanied children.
"However, now that we have left the EU, we are negotiating a new arrangement with our European neighbours, and we are bringing forward new domestic legislation next year that includes reform of the asylum system.
"It is also important to point out that during the EU transition period, the UK has continued to reunite unaccompanied children with family members in the UK under the Dublin Regulation."
