Minister grilled over disclosure ‘round 50’ visa have been granted to Ukrainian refugees

A authorities minister has been grilled over revelations that as few as 50 visas have been granted for Ukrainian refugees to come back to UK.

James Cleverly, a Overseas Workplace minister, acknowledged that “solely small numbers” fleeing Russia’s brutal invasion had come to Britain however to date – however insisted the method “has solely simply began”.

The testy alternate got here after the House Workplace disclosed that solely “round 50” visas had been granted below the Ukraine Household Scheme as of 10 am Sunday whereas 5,535 functions had been accomplished.

Beneath the scheme — introduced final week — Ukrainians with household ties to the UK can apply for a visa lasting as much as there years whereas Priti Patel, the house secretary, is claimed to be analyzing a separate “humanitarian route” for these with out household hyperlinks.

However pressed on Sky Information on the low numbers granted visas to date, Mr Cleverly insisted: “This example has occurred solely over the past couple of days.

“After all, the overwhelming majority of individuals have simply crossed the border into the neighbouring nations and naturally what we’re saying is we’re supporting them there.

“We’re additionally going to verify we host Ukrainians right here within the UK whether or not briefly… we have now obtained to guarantee that we have now the processes in place to try this”.

In at instances testy alternate with presenter Kay Burley, who requested the minister “what processes”, Mr Cleverly replied: “In the event you’re going to ask questions, you’ve obtained to let me reply”.

Quizzed once more on the permitted visa figures, he went on: “We’ve got processes in place whereby individuals with household right here within the UK and certainly these with out household within the UK can come to the UK.

He added: “Solely small numbers have come so far and I’d remind you the method has solely simply began and the overwhelming majority of individuals are bodily nonetheless within the nations neighbouring Ukraine.

“We need to assist these individuals whether or not they’ve been in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Poland, the place are a lot of individuals are, and likewise we need to assist them once they come to the UK”.

Talking on LBC, nonetheless, the Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Overseas Affairs Committee, instructed LBC it was “definitely not successful” when requested if the federal government had failed in approving simply 50 Ukrainian refugee visas to date.

“What we have to do is to guarantee that we get the House Workplace completely delivering, to guarantee that we get the assist for many who are most in want,” he stated.

“The British individuals are extraordinarily beneficiant, you and I each know that.

“This isn’t some form of, you already know, unlawful rip-off. That is, completely clearly, individuals fleeing for his or her lives and we must be completely there to assist them.”

Ms Patel, who was additionally below hearth for the visa approval numbers on Sunday, additionally instructed The Solar that the House Workplace was now “investigating the authorized choices to create a humanitarian route” for these with out ties to the UK and fleeing the battle.

“This implies anybody with out ties to the UK fleeing the battle in Ukraine may have a proper to come back to this nation,” she added, regardless of already ruling out an open door coverage.

The Unbiased has a proud historical past of campaigning for the rights of essentially the most susceptible, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome marketing campaign through the conflict in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our marketing campaign and launch this petition within the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian disaster, we’re calling on the federal government to go additional and quicker to make sure assistance is delivered. To seek out out extra about our Refugees Welcome marketing campaign, click on right here. To signal the petition click on right here. If you want to donate then please click on right here for our GoFundMe web page.