Priti Patel to relax rules to allow ALL Ukrainian refugees fleeing Putin’s invasion to come to Britain
PRITI Patel is preparing to offer any desperate Ukrainian refugee fleeing Putin’s invasion a “humanitarian route” to the UK, The Sun can reveal.
So far only those with a family member in Britain have been offered sanctuary, sparking calls for the Government to go further.
But following a harrowing trip to the Ukrainian border, the Home Secretary wants to relax the rules.
Last night she told The Sun: “In response to the desperation I saw with my own eyes at the Polish border two days ago, I’m urgently escalating our response to the growing humanitarian crisis.
“I am now investigating the legal options to create a humanitarian route.
“This means anyone without ties to the UK fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will have a right to come to this nation.”
Amid fears Ukraine’s war with Russia will last for months or even years, Home Office lawyers spent the weekend working out the plan’s details.
Most read in The Sun
It's understood the new plan would be separate from the current families scheme and proposed sponsorship scheme that would allow Brits to support a new arrival that was announced last week.
An open border offer for Ukrainians was rejected by the Government last week on security fears.
Labour and Tory MPs have been urging ministers to be generous.
The UN estimates over 1.3million people have already fled the horrors of war — mostly to Poland.
🔵 Read our Russia - Ukraine live blog for the very latest updates
While the EU has offered to take any refugee visa-free for three years, they have yet to allocate which member states they will go to — leaving the Polish government struggling to cope.
Yesterday, Ms Patel visited the Ukrainian Social Club in West London to meet volunteers.
The Home Office said “around 50” visas had been given the green light under the Ukraine Family Scheme as of 10am on Sunday.
In all, 5,535 online applications have been submitted online and 2,368 people booked a visa appointment to submit their application and biometric information.
Some 13,500 people have started, but not completed, an online application.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?
Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours