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Appearing on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, the former foreign secretary said rich countries should commit more of their wealth to help resettle migrants. The president of the International Rescue Committee added Britain should at least be taking in 20,000 or 25,000 asylum-seekers a year. Mr Miliband said: "I think there's quite a lot of scope for Theresa May to come to the UN and to the Obama summit on Tuesday and say look, the UK has a really good record on international overseas aid.

SKY • GETTY David Miliband said Britain should take in four times as many asylum-seekers as currently planned

"We're a leader, the UK is a leader, through the Department for International Development on global humanitarian help, but we can also make a greater contribution beyond the six refugees per parliamentary constituency.” The Labour politician continued by suggesting it was not worthy of the UK with its history of aiding people in need to “only” take in six asylum-seekers per parliamentary constituency. Mr Miliband said: ”Frankly, the UK should be saying we'll take 20,000 or 25,000 a year, so four times the current level, 25 refugees per parliamentary constituency rather than just six, because countries like Canada are already doing that.

SKY Taking in four times as many migrants would mean 20,000 or 25,000 asylum-seekers each year

The UK should be saying we'll take 20,000 or 25,000 a year David Miliband

"So I think the UK could do more on the refugee resettlement side to match the frankly exemplary performance that the UK has on international humanitarian aid." It comes as Yvette Cooper, the chair of Labour’s refugee task force, said the Prime Minister should ensure Britain takes in more than the 20,000 Syrian refugees the UK has already agreed to. Ms Cooper, Ed Balls’ wife, wants Mrs May use next week’s United Nations General Assembly summit to gain support from other nations to establish safe routes for refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria in order for them to enter Europe safely.

Migrants go to extreme lengths to cross borders Fri, October 7, 2016 Desperate migrants fleeing Syria and surrounding places have been trying to sneak across borders in incredible ways. These include hiding in suitcases and sleeping next to car bonnets Play slideshow 1 of 40