So That's What Farage Meant

[FredPuli43]

Nigel Farage appeared to dilute his call for Syrian refugees to be given asylum in Britain yesterday, saying that it should be offered only to Christians.
The UKIP leader was criticised by some in his party for making the offer over the weekend. However, he appeared to clarify his call yesterday by saying that while Syrian Muslims could seek shelter in Islamic countries, Christians had no such option.
“It’s bad enough for Sunni and Shia, [but] at least there are neighbouring countries that will take them,” Mr Farage told the Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2. “Where on earth are the Christians going to go? Christians are now a seriously persecuted minority.”
His clarification came after Earl Howe, a Tory minister, had agreed that Britain should consider asylum for Syrians. However Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, said that the provision of financial help was more useful to Syrians than asylum for a few refugees.

[The Times]

Did you think he wanted to help Syrian refugees, regardless of the religion of each?

[jno]

just for a moment, until he read AB and realised how popular inviting Muslims in would be

[FredPuli43]

Can just see that: The British government saying to Syrians who had fled their homeland "We'll help all refugees to sanctuary. But are you Christian? Sorry but we won't help Muslims, only Christians, to seek sanctuary here"

That would do wonders for us!

[emmie]

a true Christian will not always help all those in need, they will however strictly adhere to a book that proposes as much nonsense as does the Qu'ran.
Let wealthy nations in the Arab world take in refugees, we are awaiting the arrival of more Romanians and Bulgarians, so can't see where we are supposed to put them. Humanitarian aid has been given from the news that was 500 million, not a small amount.

[Gromit]

Not sure if Nigel was being too clever for his own good or stupid and deceptive.

If the UK did take in a couple of hundred Syrian refugees, that would be good for our world image and look good on our CV. If we cherry picked the christian ones who Turkey doesn't really want, then it would play well at home too.

Unfortunately he didn't reveal the entry criteria at the offset and there was a backlash. He now looks like he is backtracking, and maybe he is.

Would ABers turn away christian refugees?

[emmie]

yes, time to close down the borders for the foreseeable. Economy not sufficiently robust, nor our much needed services, so lets stop this nonsense of ever more until we have had some degree of recovery. If Labour get in next election, what are they proposing on immigration, or haven't they said yet, after all its only a bit over a year away,
who cares what kudos we get or don't get, if pour folk poured out of Britain in their hundreds of thousands, where do you suppose they could go and get help, tell me that.

[emmie]

bloody nora, poor folk, yet another typo... sorry

[Zacs-Master]

Another well thought through proposal thereby Mr Farage. Not. Cue hundreds of Muslims taking 'us' to the ECoHR.

[Gromit]

Emmie,
Conservative or Labour. They are both bound by the same EU treaty. Don't fall for the Tories promises of reducing immigration to a trickle. They can't. They promised that last time and have failed miserably.

There will be a referendum on our EU membership, but Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne will be campaigning to stay in.

[emmie]

i am fully aware they can't, and have said so on numerous threads on this matter.

[emmie]

as would the two Ed's i am sure.

[naomi24]

Although I thought it odd, I did assume he meant ‘Syrian refugees’ regardless of religion. He does, however, have a point about Christian refugees.

[emmie]

aren't Christians persecuted in Syria?

[naomi24]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19064703

[emmie]

thank you, i thought so...

[mikey4444]

Another nail in the coffin of BNP-lite !

[jim360]

That'll teach me to think that Nigel Farage is being sensible.

[naomi24]

He is being sensible. He recognises that this country cannot continue to accommodate all and sundry, and whilst Muslim refugees from Syria are surrounded by safe havens Christian refugees have few in the immediate vicinity. That might come across as something few here care to acknowledge, but it’s a fact.

[jim360]

To the extent where he talks about Syria is surrounded by Muslim countries then yes, he's being sensible. If he then extends it to some sort of religion test for people coming into this country then no, he isn't. Of course he's ever going to be able to implement such a policy.