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

Building a lasting legacy through reorganisation

By Manjeet Gill | 07 August 2026

Reflecting on her experience in Wiltshire, Manjeet Gill says strong leadership and trusted relationships transform council reorganisation into lasting organi...

WHITEHALL

Top tips for delivering LGR

By Justin Ives | 07 August 2026

Justin Ives proffers practical lessons for delivering successful local government reorganisation through collaboration, planning and leadership

WHITEHALL

Rethinking the public servant for the AI era

By Stephen Jeffares | 07 August 2026

AI has become far more capable over the past decade, but human public servants remain central to local government. Instead of replacing people, the broader q...

WHITEHALL

Creating a closer relationship

By Simon Kaye | 07 August 2026

Simon Kaye looks at the prospects for No10 North and the role it can play to help reset the relationship between local and national government

Popular articles by Mark Whitehead