Title

WHITEHALL

Government committed to settling refugees 'as quickly as possible'

The Government said it was fully committed to settling Syrian refugees ‘as quickly as possible’ following a meeting with local authority leaders on Friday.

The Government said it was fully committed to settling Syrian refugees ‘as quickly as possible' following a meeting with local authority leaders on Friday.

However, a statement said it was ‘too early to speculate on when the numbers arriving would start to rise'.

Home secretary Theresa May is expected to give a further update on the situation this week.

The first meeting of the Syrian resettlement taskforce followed a surge in local authorities pledging to support refugees.

David Simmonds, from the Local Government Association, said councils wanted reassurance that long-term plans were in place to help people.

‘This is not just about money in the short-term but that resources are going to be there so that families and children are properly supported,' he said.

‘They need to be able to integrate into life in the UK and think about their education, their work opportunities and their housing opportunities.'

In one of the latest offers of support Edinburgh City Council said it would house 100 Syrian refugees over the next 12 months.

It said the commitment was in response to the ‘humanitarian crisis' across Europe as refugees continued to arrive from the war-torn Middle East.

WHITEHALL

Calling for capital investment in London

By Sir Bob Neill | 27 January 2026

Sir Bob Neill warns against talking down our capital city and makes the case for supporting London’s boroughs.

WHITEHALL

CCN: Funding for adult social care pay to fall short by £350m

By Joe Lepper | 27 January 2026

Government funding for plans to tackle low pay in adult social care will fall short by around £350m, analysis published by the County Councils Network (CCN) ...

WHITEHALL

Why we mustn't lose sight of people while we fix buildings

By Graham Duxbury | 26 January 2026

Graham Duxbury welcomes the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and says that localised support such as that offered by Groundwork will be critical to ensuring it d...

WHITEHALL

How devolution can amplify the voices that often go unheard

By Gita Singham-Willis | 26 January 2026

Gita Singham-Willis says that acting with intent now will ensure that the new era of local power creates an inclusion legacy for future generations.

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead