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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rose Hill & Charlotte Tutton

Richard Madeley challenges gov minister over 'inhumane' visa process for refugees

Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley repeatedly "cut off" show guest and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Tuesday, as he questioned the delay in efforts to grant visas to Ukrainian refugees.

As the government minister defended the UK's approach to helping those fleeing Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia, he did admit that they needed to speed up the visas being granted.

As French officials called the situation "inhumane", with many of those fleeing Ukraine either "turned away" at the border or stranded in Calais, while they wait to find out if they can be given a visa for the UK, Wallace insisted more was being done to help.

It comes as the UK's visa plan for Ukraine's refugees remains in chaos, with the Prime Minister saying he was "not sure" the claim that 50 family visas had been granted by 10am on Sunday was correct - despite the fact it was briefed to journalists by the Home Office.

Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley grilled MP Ben Wallace on Good Morning Britain (ITV)

On Good Morning Britain on Monday, hosts Susanna Reid and Richard spoke to a number of ITV correspondents in Europe reporting on the Ukraine-Russia war.

Among them had been Jonathan Swain, who had provided a heartbreaking interview with a Ukrainian refugee in Calais who had been told that - despite having family in the UK - she would now need to make her way to the visa centre in Paris to apply.

Show guest Valentina Butenko also spoke about the crisis amid her plans to return to Ukraine with supplies, after already fleeing the conflict.

Good Morning Britain host Richard Madeley repeatedly "cut off" show guest and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Tuesday (ITV)

Susanna and Richard spoke of Valentina when they asked the MP why the UK government "couldn't get their act together" and help the refugees to safety.

Susanna said: "What is going on?" leading to Ben replying: "Well look... first of all about your contributor....she should be applauded for her determination and effort."

But as Wallace continued to repeat how it wasn't one generation's war, Richard interrupted.

He said: "Mr Wallace I'm sorry to cut in, obviously you speak for everybody when you pour praise on her head.

Susanna then asked if we "had the will" to allow Ukrainian refugees into the UK, as others suggested we did not (ITV)

"Why can't we get a great big tent put it up in Calais, get some tables, get a few mobile phones, laptops, get a couple of printers there and sort out these visas?

"If we can roll out vaccines in supermarket carparks overnight, if we can build Nightingale hospitals virtually overnight , why on earth can't we get a temporary visa centre up and running today, not next week, but today in Calais? It's just across the Channel."

Wallace said he "recognised the frustration" of many about the situation, and agreed they "had to speed up the visa process".

Richard then interrupted again, saying: "Can we get a pop-up centre in Calais today, straight question. Can you just answer that, can we get a pop-up in Calais today and if not, why not?"

Wallace said back: "Well Richard, I am not the Home Secretary, that's why not," claiming it wasn't up to him to sort it.

Host Richard was then heard sighing, before adding: "Why do you think it is that other countries are managing to do this?"

Wallace claimed it was because other countries have chosen not to have visas, unlike the UK, leading to Susanna mentioning French officials who suggested the UK's chaotic approach was "inhumane".

As the government minister defended the UK's approach to helping those fleeing Ukraine amid the crisis with Russia, he did admit that they needed to speed up the visas being granted (ITV)

She said: "We are talking about a civilised country, France, which has the technology... the officials there, French officials have called our approach inhumane.

"All we're hearing is reasons why we can't do it when we all know there is a potentially simple reason why we're not doing it."

Susanna then asked if we "had the will" to allow Ukrainian refugees into the UK, as others suggested we did not, with Wallace saying we did.

It comes as France urged the UK to step up and sort the ongoing visa issue, as refugees remained stranded in Calais with nowhere to go.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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