Monday, March 07, 2022
Action failing to match words on Ukraine
Boris Johnson may have just unleashed a rather nonsensical six point plan to save Ukraine, but where it really matters his government is falling down badly.
The Independent reports that as few as 50 visas have been issued by the UK for Ukraine refugees to come to the UK, despite the crisis being labelled Europe’s worst since the Second World War.
The paper says that Home Secretary, Priti Patel was challenged over the low figure – as she became embroiled in a spat with France over refugees trapped in Calais without visas to cross the Channel:
On a visit to a help centre, the home secretary was asked if she had made it “too difficult” for refugees to be admitted, after – unlike the EU – rejecting pleas to waive visa rules.
“Nearly 12,000 have indicated that they’d like to come, over 5,000 have submitted applications,” Ms Patel was told.
“As of today, only 50 have been approved. So, given the desperation, how is it acceptable that only 1 per cent of UK visa applications have been granted? Are you making it too difficult?”
In response, Ms Patel did not dispute that only 50 visas have been issued, while arguing staff numbers are being boosted “across all application centres across the entire European Union”.
The Independent has asked the Home Office to confirm the figure of 50 successful visa applications, which was revealed by Channel 4 News.
Earlier, France protested at what it called the UK’s “lack of humanity”, after women and children in Calais were told to travel back to Paris to apply for visas.
But Ms Patel claimed: “The British government is not turning anybody around or turning anybody back at all.” She added: “I have staff in Calais to provide support to Ukrainian families.”
The French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, criticised the way British officials are turned away refugees at the Channel for not having the necessary visas.
“I have twice contacted twice my British counterpart, I told her to set up a consulate in Calais,” Mr Darmanin told Europe 1 radio, referring to the home secretary.
Basic humanity is not one of this government's strong points.
The Independent reports that as few as 50 visas have been issued by the UK for Ukraine refugees to come to the UK, despite the crisis being labelled Europe’s worst since the Second World War.
The paper says that Home Secretary, Priti Patel was challenged over the low figure – as she became embroiled in a spat with France over refugees trapped in Calais without visas to cross the Channel:
On a visit to a help centre, the home secretary was asked if she had made it “too difficult” for refugees to be admitted, after – unlike the EU – rejecting pleas to waive visa rules.
“Nearly 12,000 have indicated that they’d like to come, over 5,000 have submitted applications,” Ms Patel was told.
“As of today, only 50 have been approved. So, given the desperation, how is it acceptable that only 1 per cent of UK visa applications have been granted? Are you making it too difficult?”
In response, Ms Patel did not dispute that only 50 visas have been issued, while arguing staff numbers are being boosted “across all application centres across the entire European Union”.
The Independent has asked the Home Office to confirm the figure of 50 successful visa applications, which was revealed by Channel 4 News.
Earlier, France protested at what it called the UK’s “lack of humanity”, after women and children in Calais were told to travel back to Paris to apply for visas.
But Ms Patel claimed: “The British government is not turning anybody around or turning anybody back at all.” She added: “I have staff in Calais to provide support to Ukrainian families.”
The French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, criticised the way British officials are turned away refugees at the Channel for not having the necessary visas.
“I have twice contacted twice my British counterpart, I told her to set up a consulate in Calais,” Mr Darmanin told Europe 1 radio, referring to the home secretary.
Basic humanity is not one of this government's strong points.
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> as few as 50 visas have been issued by the UK for Ukraine refugees to come to the UK
One wonders how many "golden visas" have been issued to oligarchs since Gordon Brown introduced the scheme (regrettably not shut down by the coalition).
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One wonders how many "golden visas" have been issued to oligarchs since Gordon Brown introduced the scheme (regrettably not shut down by the coalition).
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