A refugee fleeing conflict crosses the Romanian-Ukrainian border with her baby
(Picture: AP)Home Secretary Priti Patel faced criticism today from a Tory colleague after she reportedly complained about Ireland’s open-door policy towards Ukrainian refugees.
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin said earlier this week that Ms Patel told Dublin she was concerned that its welcoming policy towards refugees would allow them to reach the UK by the back door.
The Home Office had previously said security checks must be completed in case Russian agents attempt to make their way into the UK under the guise of being Ukrainian refugees.
More than 2,500 had been welcomed visa-free to the Republic by Wednesday, compared with less than 1,000 who had been granted visas to enter the UK.
Chairman of the Northern Ireland affairs committee Simon Hoare responded today, tweeting: “Shameful. There’s no backdoor for refugees. We need a big, generous, welcoming front door.”
He also hit out at his Tory MP colleague Daniel Kawczynski who said people fleeing the warzone should remain in “frontline” states.
In a now-deleted tweet Daniel Kawczynski said: “British Left-wing parties demand Britain takes in more Ukrainian refugees. This is illiterate and immoral. When war is over Ukrainians will need to return home to rebuild their country.
“We should be supporting Ukrainian refugees in frontline states like Poland and Romania.”
Mr Hoare branded the comments “utterly risible, illiterate, immoral and offensive bile”.
He added: “Haven’t you heard what Boris Johnson has been saying? You do not speak for the Tory Party. I’m not sure you speak for humanity.”
On Thursday Ms Patel announced that a new streamlined approach for Ukrainians to come to the UK will be in operation from next week.
She told MPs she had received assurances on security matters which enabled her to make changes to the family scheme, saying: “Ukrainians with passports will no longer need to go to a visa application centre to give their biometrics before they come to the UK.”
