Narrow defeat for fresh Isle of Man call to allow Syria refugees
The Manx parliament has rejected the possibility of accepting Syrian refugees on the Isle of Man by one vote.
The Tynwald motion was unanimously backed by the upper chamber, but was defeated in the House of Keys. Daphne Caine MHK, who asked members to set up a committee to look the issue, said she was "disappointed. Chief Minister Howard Quayle said previously that foreign aid was a "more effective" way to provide support. The Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme works with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to identify those most at risk and bring them to the UK. Currently the crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man do not take refugees. Mrs Caine said some on the island believed her motion was "political suicide", but politicians are not elected "just to make easy decisions". She added she believed most people on the island were "horrified" by the plight of the Syrian people, and "would wish their parliament to assist in the best way possible".