By Britons to be asked to welcome Ukrainian refugees into their homes
The UK government is urging Britons to take Ukrainian refugees into their homes as the conflict with Russia continues.
Officials will match refugees with sponsoring individuals and organisations under the new plan.
Those who apply will be vetted to ensure safe accommodation and will have to agree to take the refugees for a minimum period of potentially six months.
The government has faced major criticism in the past week for not doing enough to relax visa rules and take in more refugees.
Defending the government, Boris Johnson told Sky News the UK would be “generous” to those fleeing Ukraine, and details of this second visa scheme would be announced next week.
The prime minister said: “On Monday, you’ll get from the levelling up secretary, you’ll get the programme that will allow people to come in, so if people want to welcome refugees into their own homes, they can do so.”
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove will set out details of a new “sponsored” humanitarian route to allow Ukrainians without family links to the UK to come to the country.
This will include a hotline and webpage where individuals, charities, businesses and community groups will be able to offer rooms to those escaping the conflict.
Refugees who enter through the new route are expected to be allowed to stay for an initial period of 12 months during which they will be entitled to work.
Details around which benefits and public services they would have access are still unclear.
Yesterday, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that from Tuesday those trying to get from Ukraine to the UK who hold a national passport will be able to complete the application process online.
However, some organisations including Red Cross have stated that this is not enough, and that visa laws for refugees should be dropped.
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