Kezia Dugdale welcomes child refugees in Christmas message

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has sent a Christmas welcome message to child refugees.

Ms Dugdale said Scotland is a friendly country ready to offer support to those in need as she took part in the Save the Children's Christmas message programme.

She has also praised the work of the Armed Forces and the emergency services, who face extra pressures over the holidays.

Ms Dugdale said: Scotland has a proud history of welcoming people from other countries.

From the Irish immigration of past centuries to the arrival of Syrians today, we have opened the doors of our nation to those seeking a better way of life.

Those travelling halfway across the world need our support. They are ordinary people who don't want to live in fear of constant violence.

They are families who just want to get on with their lives. They are children with hopes and dreams of a better way of life. We should welcome them into our communities with open arms.

We must not forget the children here at home who need our support too. Thousands of young people live in care through no fault of their own.

So many of them are more likely to go to jail than to university. That's just not right in a modern, advanced country like Scotland.

As we look ahead to next year's election, there is a duty on every party to set out detailed plans for supporting young people in care.''

The Save The Children programme gives free educational books to child refugees recently arrived in the UK with welcome messages printed inside.

Ms Dugdale wrote: If you should get one message from the people of Scotland this Christmas, it's that you are very welcome in your new country.''

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