The Government has been "very slow" in its response to the refugee crisis and has "little to show" after pledging to reunite families separated by conflict, a f

Lord Dr Rowan Williams joined a host of religious leaders at an event in London to call on Prime Minister Theresa May to assist refugees fleeing war-ravaged nations such as Syria and Iraq.

Speaking at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, he said that together, the faith communities were proposing an "opening up of our (the UK's) current conventions and protocols" to accelerate the reunion of families separated by war.

This would mean that visa processes would be "relaxed" so that refugee families currently living in the UK can be joined by relatives stranded abroad, he added.

His intervention comes as more than 200 Christian, Muslim and Jewish clerics, alongside lead representatives of other faiths, signed an open letter urging Mrs May to unblock rules preventing refugee families being reunited in the UK.

He said: "We make (the proposal) because the pace seems very slow at the moment in responding to this crisis.

"We have had several months of discussion about the reuniting of children with parents. We have, as yet, very little to show for it.

"Turning people away does not solve the problem, it shifts the burden very often in the world we currently live in on to those less able to bear it than we are.

"The issue is not going to disappear, and so it's futile and foolish to pretend that it will if we ignore it for long enough."

Julie Siddiqi, former director of the Islamic Society of Britain, also spoke at the event

Speaking on Premier's News Hour Bishop Angaelos, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK (above, far right), said: "We're saying there needs to be more done.

"Now of course I think it's wise to have it started with smaller numbers and then build up, but I'm hoping that once the government sees that there are communities here that are willing to support and willing to take part, then we will be able to open our doors to even more people."

His Grace also advocated addressing the root causes of the migration crisis: "People don't leave their nation states... unless they feel there is no viable existence for them there.

"If we can make their presence there safe, with a sense of dignity and a sense of being able to provide for themselves and their families, I am sure they will stay."

Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Bishop Angaelos on the News Hour: