Do more to end the heartache, says ex-cricketer

A FORMER England cricketer has led calls from British aid organisations demanding the Government takes in more refugees from war-torn Ukraine.

Stuart Meaker, 33, who is in Poland volunteering for charity Lovebristol, has said the Government must do more.

An estimated three million Ukrainians have fled and admissions to Poland, the centre of the UK’S reception effort, run at 35,000 per day at present.

But the UK Government has issued just 20,100 visas in total.

The former Surrey cricketer said:

“The UK is saying one thing, and doing another, despite the open hearts shown by the country. It is heartbreaking to know we don’t have the ability to get people to England.”

Last week, Home Secretary Priti Patel revealed one reason for the slow process was because of security risks with evidencevladimir Putin is trying to smuggle in spies and assassins.

While Britain has been the most generous European country in supplying financial help, aid organisations have argued it could do more for refugees.

Keith Gorman, of foster network The Hazel Project, led a convoy of five minibuses of supplies. Having delivered these to Krakow, he collected two singlemother family groups who had not yet received permission to enter the UK.

Mr Gorman said: “The reality is that I expect us to be turned away by Border Force at Calais, but we have assurances we will be able to take them to Ireland.

“It is a totally different story there. Kids are being offered homes on arrival and school places within days.”

A Government spokeswoman said: “The UK has a long history of supporting those fleeing conflict and our resettlement programmes have provided safe and legal routes for thousands of people to start new lives in the UK.

“This has been reflected in our response to the crisis which has involved setting up the Ukraine Family Scheme and now the Homes for Ukraine scheme.”