Pressure was mounting on the Government on Monday over its “disgraceful” response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis after it was revealed just 50 people fleeing Vladimir Putin’s war had been welcomed to Britain.
Almost 12,000 people have begun online visa applications to come to Britain since Russian forces invaded on February 24. More than 5,500 applications have been completed, the Home Office said.
However, only “around 50” visas have been granted and there were reports of 150 desperate families stranded in Calais while they wait for applications to be processed.
Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said on Monday: “We now know the answer to the question that I posed yesterday. Just 50 visas granted to date and families turned back at Calais. A disgrace.”
Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, said the scheme was “certainly not a success”. He told LBC: “What we need to do is to make sure that we get the Home Office absolutely delivering, to make sure that we get the support for those who are most in need.
“This is, perfectly obviously, people fleeing fortheir lives and we need to be absolutely there to support them.”
The Government has so far only offered sanctuary to refugees with relatives in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme, or those being sponsored by Britons or companies.
After visiting the Polish border, Home Secretary Priti Patel told the Sun: “I am now investigating the legal options to create a humanitarian route. This means anyone without ties to the UK fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will have a right to come to this nation.”
France accused the UK of a “lack of humanity” after at least 150 Ukrainians were left stranded in Calais when they were turned away for not having the correct visas to cross the Channel. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government was in “total chaos” over its strategy. “It is truly appalling that desperate Ukrainian families who have fled Russian bombardment are being turned away at Calais by the Home Office,” she said.
“The Home Secretary needs to urgently get a grip. This is shameful. She needs to immediately send a team of officials to set up an emergency centre in Calais today so that people can reunite with their loved ones.” Britain is not expected to introduce another new route for refugees to get here but is keen to get more Ukrainians into the country through sponsorship visas, with Michael Gove’s housing department seeking to help to organise schemes through councils, voluntary organisations and individual offers.
Whitehall sources insisted Britain’s offer is generous, and expected to see up to 200,000 refugees arrive through the family and sponsorship schemes.
The Home Office is understood to have been told to speed up the visa system, which could see a mobile unit dispatched to Calais and possibly more officials sent to the Polish border to help with applications. About 1.5 million Ukrainians have crossed into neighbouring countries since Russia invaded.
Ireland today said more than 1,300 Ukrainians had arrived in the country, and they were preparing for up to 100,000 refugees. The EU has granted people asylum for three years.
Foreign Office minister James Cleverly this morning acknowledged “only small numbers [of refugees] have come so far” but said “the process has only just started”. He told Sky News: “We have made it clear we want to support Ukrainians who are seeking refuge, both those who have family connections here in the UK and those who don’t.”
He added that Moscow’s announcement today of a limited ceasefire and humanitarian corridors out of Ukraine is “cynical beyond words” as it would only let refugees head to Russia and its ally Belarus. Ukrainians would be fleeing “into the arms of the country that is currently destroying” them, he said.
