What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The daughter of a hero who saved hundreds of children from the Nazis has slammed Theresa May for invoking his memory in her resignation speech.

Barbara Winton hit out at the Prime Minister for speaking about Sir Nicholas Winton, who organised the 'Kindertransport' for 669 mostly Jewish children during the Second World War.

It comes after Labour peer Alf Dubs, himself a kindertransport refugee, also took issue with the reference.

In her speech, Mrs May said: "For many years the great humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton – who saved the lives of hundreds of children by arranging their evacuation from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia through the Kindertransport – was my constituent in Maidenhead.

"At another time of political controversy, a few years before his death, he took me to one side at a local event and gave me a piece of advice.

"He said, ‘Never forget that compromise is not a dirty word. Life depends on compromise.’

"He was right."

(Image: Getty Images)

But Barbara Winton wrote in The Times tonight: "Sadly, such admiration has not led to following in his footsteps in relation to today’s child refugees.

"Like so many others who believe the UK should be welcoming more vulnerable refugee children, I increasingly despair at the situation facing child refugees in Europe today.

"Just a few weeks ago I travelled to Calais and Dunkirk to meet people surviving in makeshift camps in the woods and tents on the sides of motorways. Organisations estimate there are hundreds of unaccompanied minors in Northern France, some as young as ten."

Lord Dubs, who has long campaigned for Britain to accept more refugee children from camps in Europe, tweeted: "Nicky Winton did not compromise. He was resolute in his determination to save refugee children like me."

He added: "I hope that before she steps down Theresa May will honour Nicky's memory by welcoming more unaccompanied refugee children from France, Italy and Greece."

(Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

In 2016, ministers accepted the 'Dubs amendment' after a long campaign by Labour peer Lord Dubs.

His law had called for 3,000 unaccompanied child refugees to be accepted into the country. The government caved in - on one condition. They said the 3,000 figure couldn't be set in stone, and must be flexible.

So it was with outrage that the government under Theresa May announced they'd accept just 350 kids.

Ministers insisted they chose that figure because it was the limit of what councils could accommodate.

Yet in a chaotic development, councils then came forward to announce they had extra room - so the number was upped to 480.

Ministers admitted there'd been an "administrative error".

Just last week, Lord Dubs visited refugee camps in Calais to meet children fleeing from war.

“These are the forgotten children on Britain’s doorstep,” he told the Sunday Mirror. “We’ve ­abandoned them. I’m so angry about it.”