Although Boris Johnson had one eye on a great photo op on his surprise visit to Kyiv today, there is no doubting the genuine friendship between our PM and Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president was certainly also grateful for Mr Johnson’s offer of extra British weaponry while there.
On the international stage, Mr Johnson has shown Britain to be Ukraine’s staunchest ally, committed to Ukrainian independence and standing by the Ukrainian people in their hour of need. But that story is disturbingly different closer to home.
What Ukrainian people fleeing war need most is sanctuary, and 200,000 big-hearted British families are ready to open their homes to provide it. Yet only 1,200 Ukrainian refugees have arrived here so far under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
That is because Priti Patel is not issuing them with visas quickly enough. The Home Secretary promised Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko she would ensure visas were processed in three days. That was three weeks ago.
Ms Vasylenko is an impressive MP. And she is not impressed by Ms Patel’s dilly-dallying.
In Kyiv today, Mr Johnson showed President Zelensky the firm hand of friendship.
Now the PM needs to take a firm hand with Ms Patel – and tell her that if she cannot sort out this mess, he will find someone who can.
Grant us a plan
There was something depressingly inevitable about Brits who’d been looking forward to their first proper holiday for years spending much of it stuck in traffic jams and airport lounges.
Today, chaos reigned on the ground and in the air as people tried to get away for a much-needed Easter break.
The port of Dover blamed its delays on the suspension of P&O Ferries. Airports said they were plagued by Covid staff absences.
And Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrung his hands and expressed concern, which was about as much use as a flat tyre on the M20.
P&O bosses are to blame for some of this by their summary sacking of 800 seafarers. We must spare a thought for them and their families.
But Mr Shapps knew P&O would present a problem this weekend. And Covid should have come as no surprise to him.
Labour says better planning could have alleviated some of these delays. And when it comes to travel, Mr Shapps is planner-in-chief.
Tea infusiasts
You have to be British to appreciate Sue and Keith Blayze’s passion for collecting teapots because elsewhere in the world, they would be dubbed crackpots.
The couple have spent £200,000 on their collection, which now attracts thousands of visitors a year and even earned royal approval when Prince Charles and Camilla popped in.
Which just goes to show that when it comes to hobbies, Sue and Keith have theirs down to a tea.
