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The co-leader of the Green Party has said a “more compassionate” approach to asylum is needed, after 12 migrants died trying to cross the English Channel.

Carla Denyer told ����ý South East that Green Party members are “heartbroken” that lives continue to be lost, saying “successive governments have not introduced the policies that will actually fix it”.

Six children and a pregnant woman were among those who died after a boat carrying dozens of migrants sank off the French coast on Tuesday.

“More and more harsh enforcement isn’t the answer," she said.

'Safe routes needed'

In an interview ahead of the Green Party conference, which starts on Friday in Manchester, Ms Denyer said: "The answer is, partly, to introduce more safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to apply safely from overseas."

The Green Party said it ultimately wanted , but Ms Denyer said that was not in the manifesto and was a “long-term vision perhaps for a world that is organised differently”.

She said: "Our approach in the world that we’re in right now and our policies… are about taking a compassionate approach to asylum and recognising the positive contribution that migrants make to the UK economy, to our culture and to our society at large.”

The Green Party co-leader did not answer directly whether any small boat arrivals would have their applications rejected if the Green Party was in charge.

She said: "It’s about considering each application on its merits."

Ms Denyer would also not be drawn on whether the UK should take in more asylum seekers, but pointed out the UK takes many fewer asylum seekers than many other European countries.

“I’m not calling for infinite numbers, I’m calling for a compassionate approach”, she said.

The Green Party has four MPs, including Sian Berry in Brighton.

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