CUMBRIA is ready to accept refugees if asked by the Government, says the county council.

No contact has been made by the government over the resettlement of Afghan nationals since the Taliban took over the capital Kabul earlier this week.

A pledge has been made by Boris Johnson to bring up to 20,000 refugees to the UK over the next few years.

Cumbria has settled some and remains ready to process more.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “Cumbria has welcomed 258 refugees since 2017 under the existing Government refugee resettlement schemes, including four families from Afghanistan earlier this summer.

"Under these schemes the county has already collectively pledged to resettle a further 137. With the deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan, Government has indicated it will be considering a new resettlement scheme to meet the needs of people now fleeing the country, we await further details but stand ready to help.”   

Across the UK, the Home Office has resettled 2,000 former Afghan staff and their families in the UK since June 22, 2021.

Afghans who have worked with British troops, Government officials or organisations based in the UK are seen as at high risk of being seen as traitors in their home country.

Therefore, there are plans being made to offer those people refuge in the UK.

The council will not be pro-active in resettlement attempts until it hears more from the government about precise plans.