Labour will continue to push for Wycombe District Council to offer a home to vulnerable refugees after slamming the Tory-led regime for a blanket vote against it.

A series of speeches from opposition councillors failed to see the motion passed by the council on Monday, with one Conservative opponent arguing “as a country we should take refugees, but please not here”.

Former mayor of Wycombe, Cllr Khalil Ahmed, led the call to welcome 200 refugees to Wycombe and accused the 39 elected officials who voted against it of lacking compassion.

36 Conservatives, two independents and one Ukip councillor voted against the controversial motion, while Labour councillors and three East Wycombe Independents voted in favour – losing 39 to eight, with two abstentions.

Cllr Ahmed said: “We did hope that Tory councillors would put aside party politics in dealing with, what we all acknowledge, is a humanitarian crisis.

“We hoped that Tory councillors would instead show compassion and some independence of thought. But, apparently not. “Tonight [Monday] councillors were asked to be good Samaritans. Most of them decided to pass by on the other side.

“We are of course very disappointed at this decision but for Labour councillors this is only the beginning. We will continue to press the council to offer refuge to Syrian refugees.”

He added that Labour believe Tory councillors held a private meeting days before the vote when they say the leadership imposed a three-line whip to vote against the motion.

He said: “We did hope that Tory councillors would put aside party politics in dealing with, what we all acknowledge, is a humanitarian crisis.”

Bucks Free Press:

Cllr Ahmed pictured at the election count in May - ARM Images.

Despite having vocal support from more than 75 people in the public gallery, various Conservative councillors spoke out against the motion, highlighting the need for more provisions and a housing waiting list including hundreds of current Wycombe residents.

Cllr John Savage said: “Labour colleagues have been screaming at this council to reduce the housing waiting list of over 1,500 families.

“Now, apparently they are happy to disadvantage 200 residents by asking this council to provide for refugees.

“We all understand the dreadful situation which is occurring in Syria and have a lot of sympathy for them, but are the Labour members able to name 200 people who are prepared to give up their places on the list?

“There are so many different agencies which would be involved in accommodating 200 refugees here in Wycombe district.

“The facilities they would require are not in our remit. For example, the social assistance they would need is a matter for the county who are desperately short of money, and the NHS who are not overly efficient at the moments, schools and many more have also been spoken about.”

He added: “As a country we should take refugees, but please not here.”

Cllr Tony Green added: “We all know, because we live here and have constituents coming to us, of the issues and problems of housing in Wycombe.

“It’s expensive, it’s in short supply and there is more being built, but it is being built but is not going to be here in the next year or two.”

Ukip councillor Brian Pearce said: “You can’t help but be move by the distress people are suffering, but I have a massive case load of people who have been waiting for years and years to get a house in Wycombe and what would I say to them?”

Bucks Free Press:

Wycombe District Council, where the meeting was held on Monday.

Speaking about the motion which he brought to the council in October, Cllr Ahmed said: “Labour councillors have recognised the practical difficulties of helping refugees in the current climate.

“However, we believe that when people are dying, you help. You may only be able to provide a bit of help. But you help.” He added: “This is a humanitarian crisis on our doorstep. In times of crisis, in Cumbria just as much as Syria, society has to do what it has to do.

“The response may not be perfectly planned. It may not follow the rule book of ordinary events. “That is what crisis means. In our heart of hearts, each of us knows exactly what should be done.”

Leader of East Wycombe Independents, Cllr Matt Knight, added: “We have a great reputation for being hospitable, for welcoming the world for caring for people, to giving generously to charity and rather having councillors running down our housing saying we can’t help, there is so much more for these people.”