TURNED AWAY
British citizen can’t bring fleeing relatives
A UKRAINIAN family stuck in Calais last night pleaded with the Government to let them into the UK as British officials turned away desperate refugees.
Families are flooding into the French port after making 1,000-mile plus journeys from their war-torn country in the hope of joining their relatives in the UK.
But, despite a promise by Home Secretary Priti Patel to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the Ukrainians, many are being refused visas as they are not “immediate family”. We can reveal refugees in Calais are being told to apply to other European countries instead.
Last night Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper branded it “a disgraceful situation” and demanded an explanation from Ms Patel. Refugee charity Care4Calais, which is trying to help families enter Britain also reacted with fury.
A spokesperson said: “Our
Government must do more. If they want to show solidarity with Ukrainians it will take more than words.”
Ukrainian-born British citizen Victoria Perebeynis, 53, who teaches
English, travelled to the Polish border at Krakowiec to collect four members of her extended family.
She planned to take them to her home in Oxford, but said: “The
It’s shameful. Priti Patel needs to explain. People need help now