Boris Johnson: ‘More than 200,000’ Ukrainian refugees could come to UK
Boris Johnson doubles his offer to Ukrainian refugees as he says more than 200,000 could now come to the UK after ministers extend the scheme to allow those living in Britain to be reunited with parents, grandparents and adult children
Boris Johnson said 200,000 Ukrainians could come to UK under refugee plansMinisters extending visa scheme to allow more people with links to UK to come But they are under pressure from critics to waive visa requirements for refugees
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Boris Johnson today predicted more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees could come to the UK after ministers offered more help to people fleeing the Russian invasion.
The Prime Minister said Vladimir Putin‘s attack had ‘already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and we must prepare for an even larger outflow’ as the conflict worsens.
Mr Johnson said ‘many people in Britain will of course want to help Ukrainian refugees’, with ministers now making it easier for Ukrainians living in the UK to bring their relatives here.
The premier said the numbers are ‘hard to calculate’ but it could be in excess of 200,000 – double an initial Government estimate of 100,000 – after ministers today decided to extend the refugee scheme.
The original scheme allowed people to be reunited with their ‘immediate family’ but Downing Street said it will now be widened to also cover parents, grandparents and children over 18.
Boris Johnson today predicted more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees could come to the UK after ministers offered more help to people fleeing the Russian invasion
The Prime Minister said Vladimir Putin’s attack had ‘already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and we must prepare for an even larger outflow’ as the conflict worsens. Ukrainian refugees are pictured today arriving at the railway station in the Hungarian-Ukrainian border town of Zahony
Ministers have been under growing pressure to make the UK’s help for Ukrainian refugees more generous.
Priti Patel yesterday ruled out a visa waiver for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict but said rules had been changed to make it easier for people with links to the UK to come here.
The Home Secretary said the Government is ‘giving British nationals and any person settled in the UK the ability to bring over their immediate Ukrainian family members’.
However, that only covered spouses, unmarried partners in relationships of at least two years, parents of children under the age of 18 and children under the age of 18.
Number 10 confirmed at lunchtime that the scheme will be extended to cover more groups.
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman told reporters: ‘The Home Secretary set out the first phase yesterday. But you can be any nationality. It is not about being a UK citizen, you just need to be settled in the UK.
‘The extension will cover adult parents, grandparents, children over 18 and siblings in addition to the immediate family members.’
Ms Patel confirmed the extension in the House of Commons this afternoon as she said: ‘Those joining family in the UK will be granted leave for an initial period of 12 months. They will be able to work and access public funds.’
The Home Secretary also said the Government will set up a ‘humanitarian sponsorship pathway’ which will ‘open up a route to the UK for Ukrainians who may not have family ties with the UK’.
The scheme will allow individuals, charities, businesses and community groups to offer to sponsor Ukrainian citizens to come to Britain.
They will initially have leave to remain for 12 months and will be able to work and access public services.
Ms Patel said: ‘The Home Office will work closely with all our international partners on the ground to ensure that displaced Ukrainians that are in need of a home are supported.
‘My colleague, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up (Michael Gove), will work with the devolved administrations to ensure that those who want to sponsor an individual or a family can volunteer and be matched quickly with Ukrainians in need.
‘There will be no numerical limit on this scheme and we will welcome as many Ukrainians as wish to come and have matched sponsors.
‘Making a success of the new humanitarian sponsorship pathway will require a national effort from the entire country and our country will rise to that challenge.’
The Government has stressed it is helping the nations surrounding Ukraine to offer support to refugees.
Mr Johnson said ‘many people in Britain will of course want to help Ukrainian refugees’, with ministers now making it easier for Ukrainians living in the UK to bring their relatives here. A refugee is pictured today at a border checkpoint in Medyka, Poland
Speaking today during a visit to Warsaw in Poland, Mr Johnson said: ‘When I spoke to President Biden and fellow leaders last night, we focused on the humanitarian emergency that is now beginning.
‘Putin’s invasion has already forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and we must prepare for an even larger outflow, perhaps numbered in the millions.
‘Poland has already welcomed many thousands of refugees with compassion and practical help, and the UK will provide up to £220million of emergency and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and I have placed 1,000 troops on stand-by to help the humanitarian response in neighbouring countries, including in Poland.
‘Many people in Britain will of course want to help Ukrainian refugees. So, we will make it easier for Ukrainians already living in the UK to bring their relatives to our country, and though the numbers are hard to calculate they could be more than 200,000.
‘And if the worst happens, and President Zelensky’s government is no longer able to function in Kyiv, we must prepare to support them whatever happens in the weeks ahead.’
