David Cameron has promised MPs that the government will work with charities and local government to consider new measures to bring more unaccompanied child refugees from Europe to the UK.

Faced with a brewing rebellion among Conservative backbenchers, the prime minister said the government would speed up the process for accepting children who already have family members in the UK.

It will also work with charities and councils to see if Britain can accept more children who arrived in Europe before the EU signed a repatriation deal with Turkey.

In response to a question from the SNP's Angus Robertson during Prime Minister's Questions, Cameron said: "We are already taking child migrants in Europe with a direct family connection to the UK and we will speed that up."

He continued: "We are also talking to Save the Children to see what more we can do particularly before the EU-Turkey deal was signed."

He added: "What I don’t want us to do is to take steps to encourage people to make this dangerous journey."

The move follows growing unrest from Conservative backbenchers over the government's repeated refusal to allow more lone child refugees into Britain from Europe.

Last month Tory MPs voted down a plan – spearheaded by Labour peer and Kindertransport refugee Alf Dubs – to accept 3,000 child refugees stranded in Europe.

But Dubs tabled a fresh amendment to the immigration bill calling for a "specified number" to be allowed, rather than 3,000.

Downing Street said on Wednesday the government would now accept that second Dubs amendment, meaning it will not be put to a vote on Monday as scheduled.

Save the Children chief executive Tanya Steele welcomed the "lifeline" promised by the PM. She said that working with the UN, the charity would ensure that the government's plan was "rapidly implemented so that thousands of lone, vulnerable children can reach safety in the UK in the coming months."

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who has also led calls for action, welcomed the announcement but warned: "The detail remains to be seen. Tens or hundreds simply won’t be good enough and would be a betrayal of the British public and parliament.

"This is a victory, but it’s not the end of the story. The government must also ensure that local authorities are properly funded so that they can help these traumatised children rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential."



