Support Ukranian Refugees

Pippa with other Lib Dem councillors marching in solidarity with Ukraine.

It has been absolutely horrifying to witness the devastating human suffering caused by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine- the now constant barrage of residential areas killing innocent civilians, cutting people off from food and medical supplies and whole cities of people fleeing their homes. I share the concern of many in this country that we are simply not doing enough to help.  

We have one of the least generous schemes in Europe to help Ukranian refugees, and as of yesterday only 300 visas had been granted for entry to the UK from nearly 9,000 applications. The so called “surge” promised by Priti Patel simply has not happened and desperate people, including UIK citizens arriving in Calais with their families have (as revealed in a BBC news report last night) been sent on nothing short of a wild goose chase around the city, only to eventually find they must travel to Paris for their visa. This is absolutely indefensible. In response to pressure from the UK public, humanitarian charities and opposition parties the government has, again, promised to increase their efforts, but there is much further to go. If we do, as we now hope, do more to open our arms to refuges from Ukraine then this must be supported by a National Resettlement programme with accommodation and support through local authorities that now have huge experience in providing a safe and welcoming home. This should be connected to all the basic services that families need- school places as well as jobs, medical and trauma support.  I am very proud that South Cambridgeshire District Council stands with Ukraine and has pledged support to refugees, calling on the government to set up this national resettlement programme to enable this to happen.

But there is also a wider issue here which the situation in Ukraine has made even starker. The Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill is an extremely dangerous piece of legislation that would significantly breach key international obligations. Amongst other deeply concerning measures, it would create different systems for refugees in the UK depending on their method of arrival, with those coming via unauthorised routes criminalised and penalised.  With no safe and legal route for many refugees fleeing war and starvation in their own countries (including still many from Ukraine, and many Afghans feeling the Taliban) this creates a lower class of status for some of the worlds most vulnerable people.  Last week there was a glimmer of hope when the House of Lords voted down this and several other clauses in the Bill but this is still set to return to the House of Commons and the Government will still try and push this through.  We have seen lots of rhetoric from Tory MPs in recent days, expressing their solidarity with Ukrainian refugees but we need so much more than words. I call on them to drop the rhetoric and act by voting down this Bill when it comes back to Parliament.

How can you help?

For information on how you can help people in Ukraine see the SCDC web page here.

Sign the Liberal Democrat petition, calling urgently for government not only to open safe passage to the innocent children and victims of war but also to provide a programme of accommodation and support once here.

Write to your MP and tell them that the Nationality and Borders Bill going through Parliament right will criminalise vulnerable refugees. You can also find out more on this from Refugee Action here.