A Conservative MP has been accused by a senior colleague of spouting “utterly risible, illiterate, immoral and offensive bile” over Ukrainian refugees.
Daniel Kawczynski claimed “British left wing parties” are making “illiterate and immoral” demands for the UK to accept more people fleeing Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham argued Britain should support Ukraine’s neighbours because “Ukrainians will need to return home to rebuild their country” when the war is over.
What utterly risible, illiterate immoral and offensive bile. Haven’t you heard what @BorisJohnson has been saying? You do not speak for the Tory Party. I’m not sure you speak for humanity #whitehotfury https://t.co/l6O0Jla0OO
— Simon Hoare MP (@Simon4NDorset) March 10, 2022
But Simon Hoare, the chair of the Commons Northern Ireland Committee, told Mr Kawczynski he does “not speak for the Tory party”.
In a tweet sent at 5.50am on Thursday, Mr Hoare said: “What utterly risible, illiterate, immoral and offensive bile. Haven’t you heard what @BorisJohnson has been saying?
“You do not speak for the Tory Party. I’m not sure you speak for humanity #whitehotfury.”
The online dispute came as the Tories, and Home Secretary Priti Patel in particular, come under vast pressure to improve British efforts to help those fleeing war.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was resisting widespread calls, including from Kyiv, to drop visa requirements for Ukrainians, instead insisting security checks were needed to prevent the Russian President sending agents to the UK.
Despite more than 2.1 million people having fled Ukraine according to UN estimates, the latest figures from Downing Street say the UK has granted just 957 visas.
Against this backdrop, Mr Kawcyznski 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.”
Mr Kawczynski later deleted the tweet and blocked the Twitter account of the PA news agency journalist who reported on Mr Hoare’s criticism.
In January, Mr Kawczynski was suspended from the Commons for a single day for undermining an apology he gave for bullying staff.
