Councils urge UK to take more Afghan refugees

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing August 20, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines [Councils across the UK are calling for the government to take in more refugees]( amid the humanitarian crisis developing in Afghanistan. Major cities like Birmingham, Southampton and Liverpool are among those that have pledged to welcome Afghans under the Home Office’s new resettlement programme or existing relocation schemes following the Taliban takeover. The government has committed to giving 5,000 people refuge under the Afghanistan citizens’ resettlement scheme in the coming year – with a vague ambition to provide sanctuary to a total of 20,000 Afghans over the “long term”. The Independent has backed calls for ministers to be more ambitious in its plan to resettle Afghans. Our Refugees Welcome campaign is calling for the government to offer sanctuary to as many people as possible, and for local authorities and charities devoted to their welfare to be given the strongest of support. [A Conservative politician who claimed the UK’s net-zero goal would be a “hard sell” to voters]( because of inaction from China took a £3,000 donation from a motoring firm operating in the country, The Independent and DeSmog can reveal. Brendan Clarke-Smith was one of a number of MPs to take part in a “WhatsApp tirade” against Boris Johnson’s push for a “green revolution” in the UK earlier this month, according to a report in The Sun. In messages criticising Mr Johnson’s plans for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, Mr Clarke-Smith claimed it was “a hard sell asking people to make sacrifices when the rest of the world, China/Russia etc, are carrying on as usual”. But research by the environmental investigations outlet DeSmog has revealed the MP for Bassetlaw in 2020 accepted £3,000 from IM Group, a UK import-export company whose automotive wing, International Motors Ltd, claims to work with “some of the largest vehicle manufacturers” in China. [The crucial phone call foreign secretary Dominic Raab was urged to make to help evacuate interpreters in Afghanistan did not happen](, the Foreign Office has admitted. Senior government officials had reportedly advised Mr Raab should call the Afghan foreign minister last Friday as the Taliban neared Kabul – but were told he was “unavailable” while on holiday. Responsibility was then handed to a junior minister, and it was initially thought a delayed call had taken place on Saturday or Sunday as Kabul fell. But the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has admitted no call took place. “Given the rapidly changing situation it was not possible to arrange a call before the Afghan government collapsed,” said a spokesman. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Sajid Javid ‘confident’ Covid vaccine booster scheme will start in September]( [British national who fears for his life trapped in Afghanistan with wife and seven children]( [Former Labour MP Jared O’Mara charged with seven counts of fraud]( . BREAKING NEWS ALERTS Sign up to our free breaking news emails for real time notifications . Stories chosen for you - [Nando’s closures ‘tip of iceberg’ as more restaurants hit by Brexit food crisis]( - [Brexit to blame for fast-food chicken shortages as ministers fail to help, industry says]( - [How the Taliban is funded: Where the militant group gets money and weapons]( - [Dominic Raab failed in his duty – so why hasn’t he resigned yet?]( - [Secret State Department cable warned of Afghan collapse in July, report says]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News Daily Briefing email, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.