Once again, Britain has opened its arms to those in need

Government processes mean we can help refugees while keeping ourown country safe

Two weeks ago I was in Medyka, on the border of Poland and Ukraine. What I saw was a human tragedy on an epic and heart-breaking scale. Women of all ages, with their children and grandchildren who had left behind their brave husbands, fathers, sons and brothers to fight for the values of freedom and democracy. The very values which define us.

The devastating Russian invasion has outraged the world and created a grim sense of uncertainty for Ukrainians. The UK will not walk by on the other side.

Throughout my time in Government, I’ve seen first-hand the plight faced by many people around the world displaced by conflict and the horrors of war. They include Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, Yemeni and Iraqi refugees across Europe, and people we have welcomed to the United Kingdom, including families from Afghanistan. Britain is a country that always does right by those in need. We have a long, proud history of offering sanctuary.

The reaction here at home has again been immensely generous, with people up and down the country donating and fundraising to help the Ukrainian people through their darkest hour. Some have even offered a place in their home to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, following the launch of the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The first phase opened on Friday for visa applications from Ukrainians who have named people willing to sponsor them, and we are working at pace to expand the scheme to organisations, including charities, businesses and faith groups. This is in addition to the Ukraine Family Scheme I set up earlier this month to allow those in Ukraine with family already settled in the UK to be reunited with them here, with the right to work and free access to whatever services they may need. We have granted 8,600 visas through that scheme so far – each offering an opportunity for security in the UK. And we have made changes to the visa process, so Ukrainians with a valid passport no longer have to attend in-person appointments to submit fingerprints or facial verification before coming to the UK, ensuring people can come here as quickly as possible.

We want Ukrainian refugees to thrive here, just like the people we have welcomed from Syria, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan. They will have access to public services, from the NHS and specialist mental health services to education and benefits. This is backed up by extra government funding for local authorities. And despite the misinformation being peddled by some, the Government has not set a cap on the number of Ukrainians who can be helped through our schemes.

Our human instinct to provide immediate help for as many people as possible has nonetheless got to be balanced with my main responsibility – the security of our nation. The processes that we have put in place follow the advice of our intelligence and security services. They mean we can help Ukrainians in need, without making our country less safe.

We cannot afford to forget that in very recent history agents of the Russian state have sought to commit murder on British soil and that a Russian-sourced chemical weapon deployed in the UK resulted in the death of a British citizen. It would be a dereliction of the Government’s duty if lax controls on those entering the country without documentation were to result in an influx of agents working for the Putin regime.

The British public can be reassured that concerns about security will always be in mind while we work to ensure that our operational processes are as agile and flexible as possible for the vulnerable people we are helping.

The UK has always been a place of sanctuary which stands for freedom and democracy, and against barbarism and tyranny.

With the people of Ukraine, we are proving so again.