Judge Robert Rinder has vowed to give a voice to the most vulnerable refugees at the Ukrainian border.
The TV judge has pledged to shine a light on the struggles faced by those applying for safety in the UK.
He told the Standard: “I’m reporting on the situation at the Polish-Ukrainian border, not least so that people in our country understand just how difficult it is for people to apply to get sanctuary in the UK.
“We’re looking at the range of difficulties there are and to get a sense of what the literal barriers to entry are. How serious are we about giving sanctuary?”
While he is on the border, he has raised the possibility of meeting the grandparents of his Strictly co-star Oksana Platero who are among the millions of Ukrainian refugees to have fled the conflict.
He said Oksana had “gifted” him so much during his time on the show and he said her grandparents were among the “millions who need us”.
“Hopefully they’re going to cross the Polish border before I arrive,” said the 43-year-old. “Hopefully we’ll find a home for them, and money has already been raised for them.”
‘The truth is like a lion. You don't have to defend it. Let it loose. It will
— Robert Rinder (@RobbieRinder) March 10, 2022
defend itself.’ St Augustine@talkRADIO @NewsUK https://t.co/to4XcwMJgt pic.twitter.com/eJ2rNhqk9G
During his live broadcast, which will take place on TalkRADIO, Mr Rinder said he wanted to hold the Government to account that its promise of those in need being able to come to the UK.
“It would be wrong if we weren’t seeing that our government was honouring that promise, a promise that was extended to my family,” he said.
Mr Rinder’s maternal grandfather was a Holocaust survivor, who came to the UK as one of the 300 Windermere children.
“This country gave him a place of healing and of hope,” he said.
He said he did not wish to draw equivalences between his family’s experience and those fleeing Ukraine.
However, he added: “What we know is that those experiencing the trauma of war are nearly always the poorest and most vulnerable, children.”
The TV judge said he felt it was important “to collect as much evidence” of what is taking place and to share the stories of those who are experiencing the horrors of war.
