Luke has today called on the Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, to set up a funded scheme for Afghan refugees in the UK, helping them to establish their own businesses.

Luke said:

Afghan families who have come to the UK want to contribute fully to our economy and to the local communities which have welcomed them. The government must support them in this, and a funded scheme to help refugees set up their own businesses would be an effective and worthwhile measure.

Following the political and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Plymouth has proudly committed to welcoming sixty Afghan refugees by September 2022, and a further fifty across a five year period. In August, Luke supported Labour’s calls for the government to establish a resettlement scheme for those evacuated from Afghanistan.