CRAVEN should ‘look after its own’ before offering help to refugees and asylum seekers, said a councillor.

In response to Craven District Council’s plans to accept at least 19 people, including children, from war torn countries, Cllr Richard Welch said he could not support it.

Britain was not a ‘wealthy country’, just ten per cent of people had 90 per cent of the wealth, and there were many people, including ex-forces, who were sleeping rough on the streets and even dying, he told last week’s full council meeting.

Acknowledging it was a ‘taboo subject’, he said the fact there were so many food banks and millions of food parcels being handed out showed what a state the country was in. He also referred to the Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) and how they had lost out, and asked if the refugees and asylum seekers would be subject to the Government’s new points system and if they would receive benefits.

But deputy leader Cllr Simon Myers said Britain had a long history of welcoming refugees who had helped shape the country and each wave had brought ‘great benefits’. The people to be resettled came from the most desperate countries and had undergone a rigorous process to gain refugee status.

“I am sure that Syrian doctors will be so grateful that they will work very hard for the benefit of this country. The idea that we turn people away is abhorrent. I rue the day that Britain turns its back on these people in great need,” he said.

Cllr Robert Heseltine added they were all part of the same planet. “Don’t make the mistake by thinking that these refugees will be a burden on this country, they will contribute fully. Perhaps Cllr Welch ought to put himself into their position and think about how he would want to be treated in the same situation,” he said.

Craven is taking part in the North Yorkshire Resettlement project, which will see a total of 200 people coming to North Yorkshire over the next four years.