Former Cabinet Minister Robert Jenrik became the first lawmaker to accept a family of Ukrainian refugees under a new government scheme – but criticized the included “bureaucracy”.
The former Conservative housing secretary, who lost his role in government in last autumn’s change, met 40-year-old Maria and her two children at Stansted Airport earlier this week.
Environment Minister Victoria Prentiss received a 25-year-old Ukrainian refugee two weeks ago, but under an existing visa protocol, not under the newly created Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The sponsorship program was set up last month amid controversy over the government’s initial policy toward Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, which is now in its seventh week.
The scheme allows people in the UK to sponsor Ukrainian individuals or families, including those who have no family ties to the UK, to live in their homes for at least six months.
But he faced intense criticism, and earlier this month, Refugee Secretary Richard Harrington admitted in a live radio interview that it was “uncomfortable” that the scheme “took so long” to introduce.
According to the latest figures, 16,400 people have arrived in the UK under all visa schemes, but only 3,200 under the Homes for Ukraine program, with less than half (45.1 per cent) of visa applications submitted under this program being provided.
Speaking in Chopper’s political podcast to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Jenrick said: “I think the process has been too bureaucratic and I think the Home Office often falls into this trap.
“There were simple things we could and should have done from the beginning, such as the Ukrainian form, for example.
“And I’m not sure if you should check on minors who are extremely unlikely to pose a threat to this country.
This map shows the extent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
(Images of the press association)
Jenrik, who lives with his wife and three daughters, also described the experience as “quite emotional” as Maria arrived in the UK with her two children, Christina, 11, and Boden, 15.
He added: “It was a very difficult experience for them. Even the experience of coming here was traumatic.
“They spent seven hours in line at the Polish border before finally being able to leave Ukraine. [and] catch flights to the UK and the experiences they have had and their relatives have had in different parts of the country over the last two or three months are really painful. ”
Regarding the process itself, he said: “The truth is that this was an uneven start to the scheme. It took too long to get visas – for us it took about three weeks to get approval for all three visas.
“And so there are people who are disappointed; tested the patience of sponsors and, more importantly, of families and individuals themselves.
“But after participating in some schemes that are no different than in the past – such as the Hong Kong scheme, the Syrian scheme, the Afghanistan scheme … as a minister, as a secretary of the community – I know that. But I think we will overcome these inequalities; we are overcoming them now. “
Grant Shaps, the transport minister, previously revealed that he was in talks to accept a family of three under the same scheme.
But two weeks ago, he said he was still struggling to move the three-generation family group from Kyiv to the United Kingdom, saying: “I just want to bring the family here, you know, and feel safe and live with us. “
The Independent has a proud history of campaigns for the rights of the most vulnerable, and for the first time we conducted our campaign to welcome refugees during the Syrian war in 2015. Now that we are renewing our campaign and launching this petition after the Ukrainian crisis unfolds , we call on the government to go further and faster to ensure that aid is provided. To learn more about our refugee welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition, click here. If you want to donate, please click here for our GoFundMe page.
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