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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Aletha Adu

Tory MP accused of spouting 'illiterate and offensive bile' over refugees tweet

A Tory MP has been accused of spouting "utterly risible, illiterate, immoral and offensive bile" for claiming it would be "immoral and illiterate" for the UK to take in more Ukrainian refugees.

Daniel Kawczynski claimed it was "British left-wing parties" making "illiterate and immoral" demands for Britain to widen its humanitarian response to the Ukraine crisis.

In a now deleted tweet, Mr Kawczynski said Britain should merely support Ukraine's neighbours as "Ukrainians will need to return home to rebuild their country" when the war is over.

Simon Hoare, chairman of the Commons Northern Ireland Committee, told Mr Kawczynski he does "not speak for the Tory Party".

Mr Hoare said: "What utterly risible, illiterate, immoral and offensive bile. Haven't you heard what BorisJohnson has been saying?

(PA)

"You do not speak for the Tory Party. I'm not sure you speak for humanity #whitehotfury."

The row erupted hours before Home Secretary Priti Patel bowed to pressure and confirmed people fleeing Ukraine will be able to apply online from wherever they are and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain.

More than 2.1 million people have fled Ukraine according to UN estimates, and the UK has just granted 957 visas.

Against this backdrop, Mr Kawczynski tweeted: "British Left wing parties demand Britain takes in more Ukrainian refugees. This is illiterate and immoral.

"When war is over Ukrainians will need to return home to rebuild their country. We should be supporting Ukrainian refugees in frontline states like Poland & Romania."

(Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS)

Boris Johnson has since boasted of the UK's "outstanding record" on accepting Ukrainian refugees despite accusations of "truly dreadful" treatment of refugees.

The Prime Minister once again claimed the UK has done more to settle vulnerable people since 2015 "than any other country".

He made the claims despite taking stock of the huge gesture EU countries made last week, enabling Ukrainians to seek refuge in countries without having a visa.

The Temporary Protection Directive grants refugees automatic temporary residence in any EU country alongside access to education, healthcare, housing and jobs immediately for up to one year.

Mr Johnson today said: “I think the UK has got an outstanding record of accepting vulnerable people fleeing from war zones."

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