MPs: We must work together to end Venezuela crisis
Politicians from across the West Midlands have called on world international governments to work together to end the crisis in Venezuela.
The South American country has been plunged into turmoil with socialist leader Nicolas Maduro refusing to quit, despite his rival Juan Guaido declaring himself interim president last month.
Maduro's stance has prompted widespread anger around the world, with the US and Europe calling for international intervention to end the stand-off.
Wolverhampton South East Labour MP Pat McFadden, who has welcomed Venezuelan migrants to his constituency, said: “It is tragic to see a country with significant oil wealth be in a situation where people can’t even afford to feed themselves.
"Many Venezuelans have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries because life there has become so hard.
"There have been major failures of governance which have led to this and it’s important that the world works together to help the people there and stop this situation getting any worse."
Warley MP John Spellar has spoken in Parliament to call on the British Government to help prepare for the reconstruction of Venezuela.
The Labour MP attacked the Maduro Government’s "legacy of economic meltdown, a collapsing oil industry, hyperinflation, food shortages and three million citizens in exile".
He added that the UK, the EU and the international community should prepare "a Marshall plan for the reconstruction of Venezuela" – referencing the 1948 US-UK initiative which helped reconstruct Western Europe after the Second World War.
Wolverhampton councillor Beverley Momenabadi, who counts Venezuelan migrants as her neighbours, said: "Finally, the world is now waking up to the horror of what is happening in Venezuela and everyone should put ideology aside in order to help restore democracy in Venezuela and ensure critical aid can reach the civilians in need.”
