Cabinet minister Michael Gove is interested in housing a refugee from Ukraine, as he revealed he is “exploring” how to personally support those fleeing the Russian invasion.
The levelling up minister set out details of the new sponsorship route, allowing Britons to offer homes to Ukrainian refugees and receive a “thank you” payment of £350 per month.
Asked on the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme he would take in a Ukrainian refugee, Mr Gove said: “Yes.”
He added: “I’m exploring what I can do, I know that there are others who have. Without going into my personal circumstances, there are a couple of things I need to sort out - but yes.”
Mr Gove also indicated during a Times Radio interview that he would be willing to house a refugee himself – saying he was interested in doing so and “exploring what I can do”.
Grilled if he would house a refugee or was thinking about it, he replied: “I have particular personal circumstances which I won’t bore you with, which just require me to work one or two details out.”
Mr Gove said “tens of thousands” of refugees could come through the route, and revealed that local authorities would receive £10,000 for each Ukrainian refugee sponsored in their area.
People sponsoring refugees through the new uncapped route will be required to commit to the scheme for a minimum of six months – but will encouraged to keep up the offer for as long as they can.
Sponsored refugees will be granted 36 months leave to remain in the UK, with entitlement to benefits and public services. Those offering accommodation will be vetted and Ukrainian applicants will undergo security checks.
Mr Gove said individuals and community groups would use social media to connect with refugees, adding that charities would help in the “matching process”.
He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “We know charities, and we are working with them, who are working to identify people on the ground, and helping to identify people here to create the matching process.”
But opposition parties expressed concern about the “slow and cumbersome” offer, and compared the reliance on social media to “online dating”.
Charities also questioned the “bureaucratic” process which will see British sponsors go through online paperwork and security checks on behalf of a particular “named” refugee.
The Refugee Council said the government was putting too many “bureaucratic hurdles” in the way – and said the scene “will inevitably be restricted to those who are known to people in the UK”.
Labour also cautioned that “too many questions remain unanswered” about the new scheme – accusing the government have been “far too slow, far too mean” in its approach to refugees.
Shadow levelling up minister Lisa Nandy told LBC: “There’s no help … to make people match their sponsor. We’re asking people to ask to take to social media at a time they’re fleeing a war zone. This is a serious crisis – it’s not an online dating situation.”
Questioning the lack of detail in the sponsorship plan, Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News: “What would comfort me more frankly is if I heard from Michael Gove that there were plans in place for the support that’s actually going to be needed on arrival.”
Meanwhile, first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have said both Scotland and Wales are willing to become “super sponsors” for Ukrainian refugees.
The SNP leader said on Sunday that Scotland “stands ready” to take 3,000 Ukrainian refugees immediately.
Ms Sturgeon also said she was worried the UK sponsorship scheme will be “slow and cumbersome”, will lack proper support and safeguarding, and may not be sustainable for the length of time that people may need to stay in the UK.
The Independent is also raising money for the people of Ukraine – if you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page.
The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here.
