The government has officially launched its Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will see families across the UK host Ukrainians who have fled the country.
People who 'sponsor' a Ukrainian refugee will be offered a £350 a month 'thank you' payment.
Previously only Ukrainians with family members already settled in the UK could come. But under the new scheme, sponsors can provide a route for Ukrainians without family ties to come to the UK.
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The UN’s refugee agency believes more than 2.8 million people have left Ukraine in search of safety.
As British householders are urged to throw open their doors to refugees, politicians and celebrities are being asked if they are willing to sign up to the government's new scheme.
Boris Johnson is unlikely to take any Ukrainian refugees into No 10, according to Downing Street.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman indicated that Mr Johnson will not be taking part in the programme, but said it is up to individual ministers whether they offer a place to stay for those fleeing the war in eastern Europe.
Asked about Mr Johnson, who lives in the flat above No 11 Downing Street with his wife Carrie and two of his children, the PM’s spokesman said: “There are specific challenges around security on housing people in No 10."
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said he was considering whether he was able to host Ukrainian refugees in his home.
Mr Javid, who said he has made a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Ukraine, told BBC Breakfast: “I’m starting to have a conversation with my wife on that and I think many households – as you say, and I’m pleased you brought this up – are probably thinking about this across the country.
“It’s important that anyone that becomes a host that they can fulfil the obligations of a host, that they can spend time with these families and help, but there are many ways that we can all help and whatever I do at a personal level, I will most certainly be helping.”
He later told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “I do think, for me personally, it will be hard to offer the time that I think a host would reasonably (be) expected to have available to help the family that’s arriving, to help to integrate them into British society.”
On Sunday, levelling up secretary Michael Gove, was asked if he would take in a Ukrainian refugee.
“I’m exploring what I can do, I know that there are others who have. Without going into my personal circumstances, there are a couple of things I need to sort out – but yes," he told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said he will apply to join the scheme, tweeting: “We’ve spent the past few weeks as a family discussing the devastating situation in Ukraine, and so we intend to apply today to join other UK households in offering our home to provide refuge to Ukrainians until it is safe for them to return to their country.”
Labour shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that although he “would love to help” Ukrainian refugees looking to be housed in the UK, his own home might not be “attractive” to them.
Asked about whether he would house refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine by Times Radio, Mr Reynolds said: “I would love to help, without any kind of political consideration or grandstanding.
“I honestly think this is one of the seminal historical moments of our lives, what Russia is doing in Ukraine. I think it will affect policy, politics, how this country’s future bears out for years to come.
“You will know we are a family of six here in Stalybridge, so we don’t have a lot of room and that might not be as attractive as other places might be.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told the Times he would take in a Ukrainian refugee himself.
"If necessary (I would), as many people would... I think we're a very welcoming nation," he told the newspaper.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Good Morning Britain: “Personally we won’t be able to because of space and other security issues, but I admire the generosity of those Londoners, and we know our city is a very generous city.”
In the world of celebrity, there have been next to no public declarations of help.
However, Benedict Cumberbatch said he hopes “to be part” of the scheme as he walked the red carper at last night's Baftas.
The Oscar-nominated actor acknowledged that “we have brothers and sisters who are suffering” as a result of the conflict and that people should do what they could to help.
He told Sky News: “We need to donate, we need to pressure our politicians to create some kind of refugee safety and a haven here for people who are suffering.
“Everyone needs to do as much as they can, and I think already today the news has broken that there’s been a record number of people volunteering to take people into their homes.
“I hope to be part of that myself."
Football legend Gary Lineker could also join the scheme. He hit back at a tweet suggesting he and Boris Johnson should 'take in a refugee' by saying he has done so in the past and "will continue to host".
He suggested people looking to take in a refugee should contact the charity Refugees at Home.
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