Ukrainian refugees

The U.K. government launched a scheme to grant entry to Ukrainian refugees who wish to join family here in the U.K. They will have somewhere to stay, they have people to welcome them and they may well speak English to ease their lives here. I strongly support this policy.

The U.K. government have listened carefully to what the refugees crossing the land borders out of Ukraine want. Many want to be given temporary accommodation and support near to the Ukrainian border, so they can return home easily once the fighting Ā is over. Many of them are women and children who want to be rejoined with their husbands, brothers, fathers who have stayed at home to fight. They want Ā as soon as possible to return to their own homes. I support the generous approach of the U.K. to assist the host states near to Ukraine with money, supplies and expertise. This is the way we can help the most refugees in the way they want. They want Ā to stay in a country closer to and more like their own.

The U.K. is now drawing up a third scheme to offer 3 year visas to refugees without family contacts. This scheme will harness Ā the generous spirits of U.K. citizens who want to offer free accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. I would be interested in your thoughts on this scheme.

My questions about the emerging shape of this scheme include

Why a 3 year period? It is a long time to be out of your country and we all hope there will be a peace long before then. If there is no peace why limit it to 3 years.

What provision would be made if we are talking large numbers to ensure there are enough school places with special teaching to overcome the language barrier? What extra capacity will be added to GP and hospital services?

If it is based around the free offer of accommodation by U.K. home owners what legal agreement will there be to ensure security of tenancy for the refugees? In what circumstances could the U.K. citizen back out of the offer? What fall back accommodation does the state have? Will there be any stipulations about the standards of the accommodation?

 

187 Comments

  1. Mark B
    March 10, 2022

    Good morning.

    Many want to be given temporary accommodation and support near to the Ukrainian border, so they can return home easily once the fighting is over.

    What, they don’t want a rubber dingy and a one way trip across the English Channel with 4 Star hotel comfort. What’s wrong with these people ? /sarc

    The U.K. is now drawing up a third scheme to offer 3 year visas to refugees without family contacts.

    So the Polish and Romanian nannies are proving too expensive now are they ? šŸ˜‰

    I am against this scheme as I believe it is open to abuse. But I bet it will prove popular with your MP’s. I mean, are these people also prepared to give these people food, spending money and to pay for all the services that are free at the point of use ? I’d doubt it.

    Stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

    The countries bordering Ukraine are indeed need of help and I believe that the substantial Overseas Aid Budget should be directed to them to help with this refugee crises.

    1. Ian Wragg
      March 10, 2022

      More importantly are you going to ring Cuadrilla and tell them not to fill the wells with concrete.
      These refugees will consume power and food both in short supply so let’s worry about our future for a change.

      1. Ian Wragg
        March 10, 2022

        I’ve got a good idea, how about rounding up the cross channel gimmigrants, men between 18 and 60 and sending them to Ukraine as an international brigade.

        1. Donna
          March 10, 2022

          They’re certainly of fighting age and many of them probably have relevant experience.

        2. Hope
          March 10, 2022

          What a load of bunkum JR.

          Your govt has offered the UK home to Afghanistan after going to unnecessary war, costing UK military personnel lives and maimed for life- which is a burden to the NHS- running away and giving the terrorist Taliban a hundred million of our taxes!

          Your govt. spoke strongly about China, did nothing then offered the whole of Hong Kong a home in the UK. China then gave the UK a virus and nothing happened either! Where are the sanctions against China, remind us.

          We heard all the rot about boat people, Johnson said he would send them straight home. Liar. None to date sent home all still living in Four star hotels costing taxpayers Ā£5 million a day!

          Now the Ukraine which is of no strategic interest to our country! What was telling in Johnsonā€™s remark that he, Raab and Patel were children of refugees. So he is all for mass immigration while lying to the public again.

          I am sick to death of being taxed out of existence by your party and govt to piss away my money all around the world.

          How about N.Ireland! When is gutless Johnson or Truss going to do anything about the EU controlling our country and annexing N.Ireland? Why are these two incompetents not helping Gibraltar in its negotiations with the EU when the EU is making an issue about ambulances crossing the border? It threatens the UK with vaccines, stops lorries to get food and threatens to cut energy supplies! And our govt. focuses on Ukraine!

          What did Johnson say to Trudeau about his tyrannical rule in Canada? Did he mention about democracy, freedom of speech, protest, etc. Did he hell.

          Why did you all want to hear from the Ukraine PM at our expense, did you invite him to speak to you all to hold him to account about Hunter Biden and the corruption in his govt? How confident are you that the latest Ā£400 million of our taxes are being used properly and not lining the pockets of a corrupt govt.?

          You claim to speak for England, utter rubbish. Where was your protest for the Lothian question to be addressed when Gove took away the crumb it gave? Your post again today spinning for your govt. virtue signalling at high cost to the taxpayer when taxation at a 75 year high and rising, it does not wash.

          1. Mark B
            March 10, 2022

            Not a single word I disagree with.

          2. Your comment is awaiting moderation
            March 10, 2022

            “What did Johnson say to Trudeau about his tyrannical rule in Canada?”
            I hope he asked Trudeau if he had evidence to back up the allegations he made against the protesters to justify his violent crackdown. After looking at hours of unedited video footage from several Youtubers such as Viva Frei and Ottawalks I saw nothing but peaceful protests and good humour which proves that the government and the government sponsored media were not telling the truth. The only violence I saw was instigated by the police. It seems to me that Trudeau just doesn’t like dissent, which is borne out by his openly stated admiration of Fidel Castro and also for the Chinese style of governance.

          3. BOF
            March 10, 2022

            +1 Hope.
            I feel your anger and I agree. And how Trudeau can possibly be welcomed here and meet the Queen I do not know. He is now a tyrant.

          4. Fedupsoutherner
            March 10, 2022

            My goodness Hope. What a great post.

          5. DavidJ
            March 11, 2022

            Indeed Hope. Johnson is supporting the aim of his globalist mates to oppress us native Brits at every opportunity. He needs to go. Thank you for telling it as it is.

          6. Mickey Taking
            March 11, 2022

            That makes uncomfortable reading.

          7. Mary Lowrey
            March 11, 2022

            Harsh but true.

        3. MFD
          March 10, 2022

          Well they are trained and fighting age ! Good idea Ian.

        4. Pauline Baxter
          March 10, 2022

          L.O.L. Agreed Ian Wragg, excellent idea.
          I thought of sending them all down our old coal mines that Maggie had to close down. Get some of them working again now, we need them.
          There again, we could make them work on new Pig Farms because we are short of home grown food and pigs breed faster than cattle or sheep.
          Do you think these cross channel immigrants would like that idea?

        5. claxby pluckacre
          March 11, 2022

          Brilliant

      2. Hope
        March 10, 2022

        How about importing the apocalyptic covid? Did Johnson learn nothing from the 18 million he let in at the outbreak of covid without testing tracing and from covid hotspots!

        Has it just disappeared for mass immigration! The most dishonest govt. in the history of our country.

        1. claxby pluckacre
          March 11, 2022

          And probably the world

      3. Mark B
        March 10, 2022

        Ian

        If it were in my gift I would grant licenses to whoever. Plus. I would label those organisation such as Xtinction Rebelion terrorist groups as they are clearly intent on causing real harm to this country and people.

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          March 11, 2022

          You’d be at exactly the same level as Putin, then.

          Not that you’d care in the least about that, I don’t suppose.

      4. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        +1000000

    2. Peter
      March 10, 2022

      I do think Ukrainian refugees will fit in far better than the dinghy people.

      However, I question the idea that a war means this country automatically takes in refugees. It is already Open House here anyway.

      1. X-Tory
        March 10, 2022

        Ukrainians are decent, law-abiding and hard-working and would fit in well, and are far preferable to the dinghy invaders who are both liars (their claims for asylum are 100% bogus, as they are coming from France, a safe country) and criminal (the clue is in the word ‘illegal’ migrants). The government is all over the place when it comes to refugees. It welcomes unlimited numbers of Afghans and Hong Kongers, despite the fact that if they abstain from politics they are perfectly safe in their home countries, and allows the dinghy invaders to come in unhindered (indeed, it HELPS them!), spending around Ā£5 million per DAY on top quality hotel accommodation for them, while pretending to be concerned about controlling immigration! Boris Johnson and Priti Patel are liars and morons.

        I have repeatedly said that the UK is GROSSLY OVERCDROWDED: our population should be no more than 50 million, whereas it is now 70 million. But the Ukrainians are genuine refugees, so what should we do? The solution is simplified by the fact that most do not want to permanently leave their country, so we should help fund their temporary refuge in the neighbouring countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania). On the other hand, those Ukrainians living here, who have a minimum salary of, say, Ā£25,000, should be allowed to bring their families in, and we should also allow any Ukrainians with useful skills in too, if they pass an English language test, as I am confident that with their work ethic they will not be an economic burden. Finally, in order not to add to our awful overcrowding, the government should deport TWO illegal dighy invaders for every ONE Ukrainian allowed to enter.

        1. DavidJ
          March 11, 2022

          +1

      2. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        ….and why for 3 years, the Russians might retreat next week, so refugees can return and start rebuilding – I don’t understand 3 years, why not 4 or 5 years. The time of a refugee visa should be determined on the duration of the conflict.

        1. Hope
          March 10, 2022

          Who will find them and deport them- no one!

  2. Everhopeful
    March 10, 2022

    How very nice to be a party listened to carefully by a government. Even if it isnā€™t oneā€™s own government who NEVER even considers listening to those who finance it and its schemes.
    Anywayā€¦the good news. By the time every single MP and Lord has taken in several refugees the problem should just about be solved. And then there are all the Civil Servants and BBC employees and bosses and CEOs etc etc. That should give 3 year free accommodation to quite a few thousand.
    Sorted!

  3. Everhopeful
    March 10, 2022

    Strange that no one in govt. is worried about stirring up the lurgi again!
    Mass movement of people and all that. Not by plane thoughā€¦surely?

    1. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      E,
      I am sick to death of being taxed out of existence by your party and govt to piss away my money all around the world.

      How about N.Ireland! When is gutless Johnson or Truss going to do anything about the EU controlling our country and annexing N.Ireland? Why are these two incompetents not helping Gibraltar in its negotiations with the EU when the EU is making an issue about ambulances crossing the border? It threatens the UK with vaccines, stops lorries to get food and threatens to cut energy supplies! And our govt. focuses on Ukraine!

      1. Everhopeful
        March 10, 2022

        +1000000
        Totally agree with you ( I have no party affiliation btw).
        Why are they doing it is the question we all need to ask.
        Whatā€™s really going on? Whatā€™s the plan?

        1. DavidJ
          March 11, 2022

          Seconded Everhopeful.

        2. Mickey Taking
          March 11, 2022

          A plan? You want a Plan? Good luck with that.

    2. glen cullen
      March 10, 2022

      A small number in the hundreds will have immediate family in the UK thats okay, and I don’t mean that distance second cousin that lived in the next village….and then there’s those that might be criminal or dodgy and just want the 4*hotel and access to the gravy train

  4. Everhopeful
    March 10, 2022

    Hang on.
    What about the security for the MPs and Lords..oh and the Palace (?) taking in total strangers?
    What about all the crazy laws here that allow eternal tenancy and the huge difficulty of any form of eviction?
    Stillā€¦that will be a prob for all the uber generous MPs etcā€¦right?

  5. No Longer Anonymous
    March 10, 2022

    Plus 1 to the original post.

    Alas it is a great great pity that the Conservative Government have allowed the asylum system to be abused so badly and for so long so that when a real crisis comes along…

    It is also striking that nearly all of those who now want us to put up Ukrainian people weren’t so keen on the plight of Libyan or Iraqi refugees for whom we most definitely did have an obligation because of our actions.

    Also how easily the biggest shift in our zeitgeist in Western history – the matter of BLM and George Floyd has disappeared without trace especially in view of the very worst example of racial apartheid now happening in Eastern EU. The refusal to allow the passage of black people trying to escape a war zone which is bound to condemn many of them to death. The BBC is happy to ignore this for some reason. Ditto the nazi Azov battalion which was waging war in the Donbass.

    1. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      LA,
      Every heading is being abused, it should be labelled for what it is, govt. MASS IMMIGRATION.

      My wife is waiting a month to see a GP! Schools an utter disgrace as well as all the other public services. 3 week bin collections the norm by me.

      We were told yesterday by Minister Jenrick that the next year will be the most difficult cost of living crisis for the people of this country. Yet Johnson pissing away our taxes left, right and centre!

    2. SecretPeople
      March 10, 2022

      >It is also striking that nearly all of those who now want us to put up Ukrainian people werenā€™t so keen on the plight of Libyan or Iraqi refugees for whom we most definitely did have an obligation because of our actions.

      I can never understand this sort of comment. During WWII would we have fled to Germany for safety?

      I do agree with you re. the abuse of the asylum system. We should expel those with ill intent and who have arrived here fraudulently or by means that were not legal. Perhaps then we would be able to accommodate genuine refugees such as those caught up in the Ukranian war or the Christian Indians we read about today. We also need to reinstate the principle of returning refugees home when their home land is safe to return to.

      1. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        The UK and UN asylum system isn’t fit for purpose

      2. No Longer Anonymous
        March 10, 2022

        But there were refugees from both conflicts and 58,000 Iraqis claimed asylum here. There appeared little concern among our populace for these people.

        1. glen cullen
          March 11, 2022

          nor little consent

    3. Sea_Warrior
      March 10, 2022

      The Ukrainian government should, of course, have sorted out the Azov battalion, and other unsavoury elements in its forces, a long time ago. Doing so would have removed one of Putin’s motivations for war – which is a war of naked aggression. The Sparta battalion, fighting for pro-Russian elements in eastern Ukraine, is equally distasteful, isn’t it?

      1. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        Strange that the media after almost two weeks fighting haven’t reported upon any ‘prisoners’

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          March 11, 2022

          There have been reports and pictures.

          What subsequently happened to them is unclear.

      2. Hat man
        March 10, 2022

        ‘Sort out’ the Azov battalion, SW? Do you realise what you’re saying – Zelensky would have been a dead man walking if he’d ever tried to disband the Right Sector battalions. To give the man some credit, he did try to offer reconciliation between the warring sides in the Ukraine conflict, at the time of the 2019 elections. But he wasn’t allowed to implement it. The Right Sector had other ideas.

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          March 11, 2022

          The far right collectively poll around 2% in Ukrainian elections.

          Putin exaggerates their presence and influence greatly, as do his shills.

          That said, the paramilitaries are armed and are able to cause significant disruption to normal civic life in a democratic country from time to time.

          But you’re not going to claim that Putin is trying to protect democracy in Ukraine, are you?

    4. rose
      March 10, 2022

      NLA, was it apartheid or was it women and children first?

      1. No Longer Anonymous
        March 10, 2022

        Rose – the BBC didn’t question it so we don’t know. How odd is that ?

  6. Andy
    March 10, 2022

    The UK governmentā€™s response to the humanitarian crisis has been a national disgrace. The majority – who do not vote Tory – are appalled at the callousness and lack of humanity coming from the top of government. Especially as some of those in Cabinet come from refugee families and have themselves been the beneficiaries of British generosity.

    It is true that the vast majority of Ukrainian refugees will choose to stay either internally displaced within their own country or will end up in neighbouring countries. This is true in every war. We should do everything we can to assist these people and the countries which host them.

    But it is also true that a significant number will choose to go further afield – including to the UK – and we should help them too.

    The contrast between EU countries – which have opened their doors and welcomed those fleeing – and the Brexitists who could barely be less welcoming is stark. Your governmentā€™s response is shameful.

    Let them in – as many as wish to come – and sort out the details later.

    1. Richard1
      March 10, 2022

      Whereas in the actual world – the one we live in – the U.K. govt is widely praised globally for its leadership against Russian thuggery in Ukraine, including in particular by president Zelensky. The U.K. has been helping Ukraine for years with arms and training, whilst most EU countries did nothing. The U.K. is also providing excellent and thoughtful help with refugees, in a way supported and requested by the Ukrainian govt.

      Excellent article last Sunday by Dan Hannan on how embittered remainers just canā€™t stand it that the U.K. is leading the international reaction against Russia. Your post is another good example of what heā€™s talking about.

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        March 10, 2022

        Oh, that oracle of truth, Dan “no one is thinking of leaving the single market” Hannan, yes, him.

        Your post is rubbish on stilts.

        1. Peter2
          March 10, 2022

          Again you misquote Lord Hannon.
          Get your facts right.
          He spoke about access to the Single Market
          More fake news from you NHL

          1. hefner
            March 11, 2022

            Daniel Hannan, MEP, 14/05/2015 ā€˜Absolutely no one is talking about threatening our place in the Single Marketā€™.
            YouTube ā€˜Daniel Hannan on Channel 4 discussing Britainā€™s EU referendumā€™, about 5 mn 14 seconds in the interview.

          2. Peter2
            March 11, 2022

            As I said hef, he was talking about access to the single market in that speech and others he subsequently made.
            “Our place in the Single Market” as you quote.

            All countries have access to the single market.

            The biggest trading nations with the EU are not members of the EU.
            China USA South Korea India and now the UK

            So bit of a pedantic fail from you as usual.
            we

          3. hefner
            March 12, 2022

            If you say so and that makes you feel good, be my guest P2.

        2. dixie
          March 11, 2022

          NLH where is your evidence against Richard1’s comment that the U.K. govt has been praised for its leadership against Russian thuggery in Ukraine by president Zelensky, that The U.K. has been helping Ukraine for years with arms and training, whilst most EU countries did nothing and that the U.K. is also providing excellent and thoughtful help with refugees, in a way supported and requested by the Ukrainian govt.
          Do you have any substantial facts to offer in place of your euphilic hatred for the UK?

          1. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            I commented only on Daniel Hannan, didn’t I?

          2. Peter2
            March 11, 2022

            And that was shown to be wrong NHL

          3. dixie
            March 11, 2022

            you said “Your post is rubbish on stilts.”, the post was everything and you were not specific.

          4. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            Oh yeah, so I did.

    2. Dave Andrews
      March 10, 2022

      We have more than 3m EU nationals in this country. We’ve already done our bit in freeing up spaces for the Ukrainian refugees to backfill.

    3. Michelle
      March 10, 2022

      I’m sorry (actually no I’m not) your last sentence is so typical of the out of touch with reality types who seem to think we can just keep the doors open at all times.
      I am surrounded by such people who have escaped London and its spill out into other regions who spout all this stuff, not all some are extremely honest as to why they’ve left. Yet these people who seem to believe we can take huge numbers of people with no limits are the first to start screaming and shouting at all the new developments eroding the countryside and small English towns they’ve come to enjoy precisely because they are small English towns.
      You cannot have it all ways.

      It is because of the virtual open borders from both Labour and Conservatives for so long now that we have reached this stage.
      Sensible controlled immigration is all people are asking for and not handing out citizenship here like sweets to all and sundry.
      Refugees not being returned once their homes are safe to go to has added to this problem.
      Huge numbers need even more huge numbers to service the needs.

      As for some in politics being from refugee families themselves, well that does not and should not qualify them or give them right to dictate that we must therefore just keep on handing over our home, and often to those completely incompatible.

      1. Andy
        March 10, 2022

        Let me tell you a secret. Even if we let in one million Ukrainian refugees you would not notice the difference. You would almost certainly never even meet any of them. If you did you almost certainly wouldnā€™t know. It would have zero impact on your life – and a huge impact on theirs.

        The difference between you and them is luck. Their luck has run out your hasnā€™t- yet. But please do not assume that because your luck hasnā€™t run out yet it never will. You are just a natural disaster or a war away from being a refugee yourself.

        1. Peter2
          March 10, 2022

          How stupid can you be andy
          Well let in several million then.
          Putting any up in your posh home?

          1. bill brown
            March 11, 2022

            Peter 2
            The answer is insulting and totally unnecessary. Can I recommend you think through the answers before you give them. It might be realistic with 100.000 Ukranians if we expect 3 to 4 million the rest will settle closer to home as they all wish to go home and reconstruct their country or at least the majority.

          2. Peter2
            March 11, 2022

            I think it is very pertinent billy.
            Young Andy wants open borders for all wotld refugees with absolutely no restrictions.
            Ukraine is just one country he wants this policy applied.

            What’s your limit on refugees bill?
            One million ?
            Five million?
            Ten million?

        2. Mickey Taking
          March 10, 2022

          well Andy there are reported to be 700,000 ‘registered’ Polish living in the UK – and in my wide experience they work ! They also seem to be able to communicate well in English.
          Now if we take in 1,000,000 Ukrainians- consisting of men, women and children – how many will have English, be able to work almost immediately etc?
          We would most certainly notice ‘the difference’ as you put it.

    4. No Longer Anonymous
      March 10, 2022

      There isn’t a lack of compassion, Andy. It’s a lack of trust.

      We ALL care about ‘the children’ – we just have different ideas about how to keep them safe and the EU bribing it’s way through the ex USSR wasn’t one of them.

      A lack of trust in a system that has long been abused by East European gangsters. The expansion of the EU into former USSR territories – without any mandate from the 1975 referendum – brought us Brexit at one end of the EU map, a destroyed nation at the other and the very real possibility of WW3.

      It beggars belief that those who wanted us to mask up, lock down and “Stay Safe” and protect the environment are now advocating actions that could easily lead to nuclear war.

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        March 10, 2022

        Absolute nonsense, re the recently ended talks in Turkey, the Kremlin has said that it would stop the war if Ukraine ceased military action, enshrined in its constitution that it had no plans to join Nato, gave up annexed Crimea, and recognised the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

        NB, there was no mention of Ukraine’s interest in joining the European Union.

        Was there?

        1. R.Grange
          March 10, 2022

          Sorry, but NLA is right on all points, lad: The EU has indeed extended to former USSR territories – the Baltic states. The Ukraine regime set up in 2014 did indeed ask for EU membership, and has just recently repeated that request. And it does indeed beggar belief that the high priests of safetyism are now putting our lives at risk of nuclear war.

          1. No Longer Anonymous
            March 10, 2022

            Thanks for the support R.Grange. Alas I see nuclear war as a near certainty.

            Our own politicians are being backed into a corner (by the BBC/MSM/Twitter) as much as Putin is by sanctions and the body count in Ukraine. There is a deal to be done but they dare not make it .

            We’ll be lucky if we see summer.

          2. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            I’m not claiming anything else.

            The point is that Putin isn’t that bothered by European Union membership, but by that of NATO.

            I repeat, re the recently ended talks in Turkey, the Kremlin has said that it would stop the war if Ukraine ceased military action, enshrined in its constitution that it had no plans to join Nato, gave up annexed Crimea, and recognised the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states.

            It did NOT mention the European Union.

        2. No Longer Anonymous
          March 10, 2022

          You miss the point, NLH.

          The people of Ukraine want to join the EU. I doubt many would get as excited about joining Nato and thus the EU has helped Nato plant flags all the way up to the Ukrainian border. The EU has made Ukraine ‘our back yard’ with its expansionism through many ‘mafia’ states which have contaminated our own with gangsterism, *modern* slavery, crime and illegal immigration. So the EU has ended up with Brexit at one end and a war torn nation at the other.

          Baroness Ashton (as EU High Representative) was present alongside Nato officials handing out cakes at the 2014 ‘popular’ revolution in Ukraine – this revolution was so popular it resulted in the 8 year civil war. It is quite clear that this was a concerted EU/Nato effort and Baroness Ashton did nothing to hide that allegience or at least not give the impression that it existed but maybe Putin is not as unreasonable as some have made out (hard to believe) – that he will tolerate EU membership without Nato.

          I am finding it increasingly difficult to see how this isn’t going to end in WW3. Please tell me why it isn’t.

          Allay my fears.

          Unlike Andy’s belief I AM concerned about the children and always have been. My own as much as anyone else’s.

          It is awful to see one’s sons qualify and start careers in medicine and medicinal research only for it to be snuffed out so young and with so much potential for the good of humanity here and everywhere. Years and years of parental effort and money went into that too.

          1. No Longer Anonymous
            March 10, 2022

            *Correction*

            …. I doubt many Ukrainians WOULD have got so excited about joining Nato.

            (Before invasion was likely )

          2. No Longer Anonymous
            March 10, 2022

            Sergei Lavrov Minister of Foreign Affairs Russian Federation did stipulate that non EU membership of Ukraine was a requirement.

        3. dixie
          March 11, 2022

          NLH – so your position is that a sovereign country must give in to any and all demands from an acquisitive, aggressive neighbour so their children aren’t murdered.
          Sounds like typical EU think.

          1. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            Where ever did I say that?

          2. dixie
            March 11, 2022

            read what you wrote

          3. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            No, I just quoted the Kremlin’s reported demands.

            I passed no comment on whether they were reasonable or not.

            Russia already shares borders with European Union members such as Finland, Sweden, Poland – Kaliningrad – and the Baltic states.

          4. dixie
            March 12, 2022

            @NLH You replied to the whole of NLA’s comment with “Absolute nonsense, ….” and then gave some of the Kremlin’s bullshit as a counter argument.
            Why do you believe what the Kremlin says anyway?
            You should be carefulk of what you write otherwise people might think you are a shill for the |Kremlin as well as the EU.

    5. Roy Grainger
      March 10, 2022

      You’re saying you’ll accommodate refugees in your own home Andy ? Well done. Keep us updated on how that works out.

    6. agricola
      March 10, 2022

      Well Andy time for you to step up, what hospitality and accommodation are you offering in the UK and France.

    7. Jumeirah
      March 10, 2022

      Andy: ” let them in as many as wish to come”- we’ll sort the detail out later.! You stupid man -this isn’t a two ‘gites’ somewhere in France problem this is a HUGE humanitarian disaster for heroic millions of Ukrainians who have realistically lost their homeland forever. We SHOULD open our doors to them BUT in a controlled and responsible manner not for any other reason than to ensure that we can provide proper facilities for them to live in (not the appalling Landlord owned slums that we have seen people living in)and not detention centres and alike; that we can provide the additional schools that we need; that we Jack up our NHS to accommodate the extra numbers of us living in this Country and we need to do that NOW WITH PURPOSE. To do less than any of this would be to deny them dignity and the respect that these courageous people deserve. If we haven’t got time for bricks and mortar housing,build decent modern day excellent prefabricated housing for them as well as for our own youngsters who would like to live in them. Because it’s forever with no way back for them if they want to live in freedom – lets get on with all this now. We owe them that because the West has not challenged Putin in the way that it should have with very strong confrontation.
      Meanwhile Andy concentrate on your EU and the ineffectual lead that this ‘great Empire, of regulatory nonsense, disorganisation and collective dictatorship that IS this United States of Europe.

    8. ukretired123
      March 10, 2022

      Andy try thinking it through to save much thrashing around in the dark when there are no quick fixes and no easy solutions to this unique humanitarian disaster. Respect others too.

    9. Christine
      March 10, 2022

      Why is your Government shameful? There are 2 million refugees and Boris has offered to take 400,000. This is a huge proportion of the total. How many Hong Kong refugees did EU countries offer to take? I expect none. England is the most overcrowded country in Europe. It’s time to stop berating our country and let others step up for a change.

      1. James
        March 10, 2022

        Others in europe are stepping up and without all of the fuss we go on with – they are being accepted with open arms and without visas or passports or without lengthy interviews either. Then consider Poland has already taken over one million and Moldova one of the poorest countries taking in well more than its fair share. But what about little Ireland population five million who has decided on an open door policy for Ukrainians fleeing with no limit on numbers, no visas, no need for relatives to be there, no interviews ‘ just fill out name and essential details on a half page.

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          March 11, 2022

          Absolutely.

          It’s a way to make friends for life as much as anything.

  7. Bob Dixon
    March 10, 2022

    We are bursting at the seams with migrants.How many are getting into the U.K. illegally?Where are they housed?
    The NHS cannot cope!
    Here in St Ives we have a hotel full of Afghans. Whose budget is paying for them?

    After years of no inflation we are facing raging inflation.Many households will not be able to cope.

    We have too many lightweights such as Andrew Bailey at the Bank of England who advocates nil pay rises!

    With so many problems we attack our Prime Minister.Why?

    1. Michael J Wilson
      March 10, 2022

      With so many problems we attack our Prime Minister.Why?

      That made me laugh. Hey, maybe if we had a proper PM, we wouldnā€™t have all thes problems.

      1. Lifelogic
        March 10, 2022

        Indeed Boris/Sunak/Carrie & (Saudi Arabia of Wind Kwasi) have totally the wrong policies:- ever more taxation and fiscal complexity, ever more regulation of everything, ever more compliance cost and time wasted, very expensive intermittent and unreliable energy, large & deliberate inflation and devaluation of the Ā£ by design.

        True Labour/SNP would be even worse.

      2. Roy Grainger
        March 10, 2022

        Right. If only we’d voted for Corbyn as PM we wouldn’t have this problem, the government
        would be cheering on Russia.

    2. Shirley M
      March 10, 2022

      “With so many problems we attack our Prime Minister.Why?”

      He is the reason why we have NO housing, and why expensive hotels are filling up with illegal immigrants. He is the reason we have no spare housing to help genuine refugees and no spare money to help those UK citizens in genuine need.

      What a waste of an 80 seat majority! We see the government can rush through laws when it suits, so obviously deterring illegal immigration does NOT suit! Boris will probably just buy more rescue boats and build more hotels!

    3. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      BD,
      Your increase in council tax will pay for the mass immigration programme of this govt.!

      1. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        +1

  8. formula57
    March 10, 2022

    So “The U.K. is now drawing up a third scheme …” but why is this needed along side its first scheme strongly supported and encouraged by the Home Secretary of just board a dinghy and arrive to stay as long as you want? What is the basis for offering Ukrainians something less easy?

  9. Cheshire Girl
    March 10, 2022

    I sympathise very much with the Refugees, but my question is: where are they going to be housed? Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that many of the Hotels around London are still full of them. One refugee was complaining that his family had been in a hotel for several weeks, and please could he be assigned a flat for his family.
    Priti Patel was urging Councils to come forward, even though nearly all councils had already said they were full up, and had no accommodation to offer.
    As for the idea of UK people taking refugees into their homes. I respectfully suggest that many of those, who offered to do that, in the heat of the moment, may have a rethink, as has happened in the past.
    So many times, our Government has just caved in, without thinking it through. The Media is keeping the pressure on, but in my opinion, they should be ignored.

    1. Dave Andrews
      March 10, 2022

      Where are they going to be housed? Well we would be happy to open our home to a refugee family or even two, whilst their menfolk regain their country. My question though is what happens if any of them should get sick? There just isn’t the medical services for the people already here.
      I would also like to know the details of the reparation fund we can claim against for the cost of putting these people up. Russia should pay for the damage they have caused, starting with a withholding tax on payments for their oil and gas. Any country not participating and still buying from Russia should have the charge placed on their exports. Why haven’t we heard about this?

      1. Donna
        March 10, 2022

        And if, as is likely, their menfolk DON’T regain their country ….. what then? Do we send them back to a Russia-controlled Ukraine?
        Or do we import their men-folk as well – and their wider families …… always assuming Putin lets them leave?

    2. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      Christine,
      When the next batch of refugees disappear who will search and collect them for deportation? No one.

      We had May and Rudd admins lose 250,000 and 56,000 respectfully to the Home Office system. Where do they currently work and live get health treatment?

      1. Everhopeful
        March 10, 2022

        +1
        But are they refugees?
        Or replacements?

    3. glen cullen
      March 10, 2022

      We need to revisit the clause that allows a refugees, asylum seekers or illegal immigrants to bring in their family….the ‘right to family life’ or the ‘right to sponge off the state’

  10. PeteB
    March 10, 2022

    Sir J, It seems to me that the UK has done more than most to support Ukraine with defensive military equipment, training and funding. Equally the Ukrainians themselves are encouraging the displaced to stay local to their Country.

    A limited model for refugees to the UK as proposed feels fir on overall efforts by European countries. This also aligns to UK populace views that our county is crowded and struggles to accommodate more migrants.

    Balancing that the Beeb and opposition still want to find a stick to beat the Tories. Slow policy on migrants and and careful visa controls are that stick.

    You can’t please everyone – especially your opponents.

    1. Sharon
      March 10, 2022

      PeteB

      Hear, hear!

      The Ukrainian deputy Peime Minister said in GB News the other evening when asked if we were doing enough to help refugees, said that Britain is doing more than enough, and to not worry about taking in refugees. But to please keep the help coming. From the horses mouth!

      1. Clough
        March 10, 2022

        How does that help the virtue-signalling, though, Sharon? That’s what this is about. Since we can’t (and shouldn’t) help Ukraine militarily, all that’s left to do is to display our unconquerable moral superiority.

    2. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      How about the defence of N.Ireland and Gibraltar? Is it too much to ask that our govt stands up against the EU for our country?

      1. Nottingham Lad Himself
        March 10, 2022

        Defence?

        Against what?

        Both NI and Gib voted handsomely Remain, the latter by about 99% in any case.

        NI is thriving economically precisely because of the advantages that it has over the rest of the UK too.

        1. Peter2
          March 10, 2022

          Why are they complaining about the attacks on them by the the EU then NHL?

          1. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            Who are “they”?

            A few DUP fruitloops?

        2. Peter2
          March 11, 2022

          Well they are an elected part of the political process who represent hundreds of thousands of people.
          Your rudeness towards these politicians is dreadful.
          And politicians in the South are also complaining about the effects of the NIP

  11. SM
    March 10, 2022

    The current war in Eastern Europe is precisely the kind of situation in which most of us would be happy to see the UK Aid Budget involved.

    It makes far more sense for Ukrainian refugees to be cared for and supported (hopefully only temporarily) in countries where they can easily communicate with the host population, and where many cultural customs will similar to their own, making every day a little easier than it would be in France, Italy, Britain or Spain.

    I have read that, given the high number of women and children, there are already fears of people trafficking for a number of nefarious reasons – attempting to spread the Ukrainian refugees across Europe and the UK gives more opportunities to the criminals who are already thoroughly exploiting the economic migrants coming from the ME and Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

    1. Philip P.
      March 10, 2022

      A very sensible position to take, SM. I hope this note of caution is being heard in the corridors of power.

  12. Shirley M
    March 10, 2022

    Stop pretending. NOBODY is fooled. This government, along with all of the preceding governments, want the maximum number of people into this country. More than maximum. Nobody REALLY needs a home, a doctor or hospital, do they? The incentives for immigration are VERY generous. They don’t have to work, they get everything for free along with spending money and mobile phones, and anyone is welcome, murderers, terrorists, rapists, child abusers, and it is extremely unlikely they will be deported, no matter how violent they are. The Brits will pay for it all, even though many are in dire poverty already.

    The government cannot help everyone, and they have made it clear that immigrants, legal or illegal, get priority over pensioners, the sick, the poor, and the homeless UK citizens. There are no limits to what this government will spend on immigration.

    1. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      +100
      This is a spin by JR for his govt.ā€™s mass immigration programme which it has relentless driven for twelve long years while outrageously lying to the public. Patel now hides the figures from public view. How dishonest is that?

      1. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        They’re not even transparent with the numbers crossing the channel – In SirJ own words ‘we don’t believe you’

    2. beresford
      March 10, 2022

      +1. We know that the UN believes that the population of this country should be trebled, with the numbers to come from mass immigration in order to remove control from the indigenous people. Meanwhile we are warned of food and water shortages, told there are not enough houses, and threatened with inability to heat our own homes. Of course our carbon footprint is directly related to population as well. Not saying that we shouldn’t help, but those who want unlimited numbers are away with the pixies.

    3. J Bush
      March 10, 2022

      +1
      You could be forgiven for thinking the way the politicians keep looking for more ways to get more and more migrants in, that this strongly appears to suggest a race replacement policy.

      But have they really thought this through? When they have made the native population a minority, do they really think all these migrants they have welcomed in to live here, will want to work when they have been not only living here for free but also getting pocket money?

  13. Donna
    March 10, 2022

    I’m curious as to where this “free” accommodation will be found. Is the Government assuming that British families will welcome Ukrainian refugees into their own homes, in which case why is security of tenancy required and who is going to pay the additional costs of their accommodation …. ie I have a 25% discount on my extortionate Council Tax as I live alone, which will go if I offer a temporary home to a Ukrainian? And then there are the other costs of additional residents ….. energy use, food, transportation etc.

    Or are landlords being expected to give Ukrainians free use of their property, in which case who is paying the Council Tax, water, energy etc? Or is the Government proposing to pay their rent and living costs?

    Or does the Government have a secret supply of “free” accommodation which has been well hidden from the British people/homeless Brits and hasn’t been used accommodating the economic migrants forcing their way into the country?

    As for the other public services they will need access to ….. we simply haven’t got them and can’t pay for them without a massive down-sizing of The Parasite State ….. the parasite “woke” jobs which proliferate in the Civil Service, Quangocracy and Public Sector.

    I am desperately sorry for the Ukrainian people and the GENUINE refugees who are fleeing to safety. But the (very inconvenient) fact is that if the Government hadn’t allowed/ferried in 30,000 economic migrants from France last year and accommodated them at our expense, we would have more resources for the women and children fleeing Putin’s missiles.

    You reap what you sow. This Government sowed an inability to offer much refuge to the Ukrainians because it refused to stop tens of thousands of economic migrants and refuses to deport them.

    Congratulations on your appointment Sir John. There is at least some hope that we will eventually get some sensible policies forced on this shambles of a CON Government.

  14. Michael J Wilson
    March 10, 2022

    The U.K. is now drawing up a third scheme to offer 3 year visas to refugees without family contacts. This scheme will harness the generous spirits of U.K. citizens who want to offer free accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. I would be interested in your thoughts on this scheme.

    I am puzzled. Why is this scheme not available to the ā€˜asylum seekersā€™ (who, surely, by definition, must be refugees) arriving on our shores in dinghies? Surely the ā€˜Andysā€™ of this country would offer them accommodation for as long as is necessary? What say you, Andrew?

    1. Hope
      March 10, 2022

      Who will collect or round them up in three years? No one.

    2. agricola
      March 10, 2022

      These refugees are 90% women and children. The economic migrants arriving by rubber dinghy are 90% young and male. Should tell you something I suggest.

      1. SM
        March 10, 2022

        +1

      2. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        It is indeed suggestive….and very telling

      3. Mickey Taking
        March 10, 2022

        yes Agricola – it tells me that young males are better at running away from trouble than women and children. However, the young men seem to be doing well in life already, but the women and children look like they are having a tough life.

  15. Amanda
    March 10, 2022

    And, is the Government also drawing up a scheme to solve the immediate problems of their own citizens; chiefly, health service, education and a cheap, reliable energy supply? (I read yesterday that our standard of living is back to that of 1955 – I believe that rationing had just been phased out then.) Or are they just just using us all as ‘cash machines’ to supply them with money to virtue signal and pay their globalist friends for big contracts??

    Can I just ask some simple questions. Is Russia our enemy? Is Ukraine our friend?? Would staying neutral enable us to broker peace in this troubled area of Europe more quickly and easily???

    1. No Longer Anonymous
      March 10, 2022

      +1 Last sentence.

  16. Radar
    March 10, 2022

    With emotions running very high in the UK, no thanks to our vile MSM, government is being totally irresponsible to even consider scheme 3. Plenty is being done with scheme 1 and 2.

  17. alan jutson
    March 10, 2022

    I see no reason at all for yet another different scheme.
    Surely we need to have a well thought out, set, workable and fair immigration policy that suits all people long term, which I thought was going to be based on a points system, based on our need.
    Likewise a separate genuine refugee system that suits all people.
    At the moment we seem to have a rag bag of different ideas, none of which are policed properly, because no one has any clear ideas, of what or who are responsible for funding and control.
    The problem you have with people offering accommodation (free or otherwise) are the many and varied legal implications involved of doing so if it does not work out, for a whole range of reasons.
    Once here there are legal rights placed upon all parties involved, and the local Authority in particular.
    I see yet another expensive disaster unfolding if these matters are not thought through properly.
    Housing fit for purpose, Tenants Rights, legal Duties of a landlord, damage claims and eviction, possible payment problems, Local Authorities legal obligations to accommodate, school places, HNS registration, benefits, language, work suitability, sustainability, and above all suitable and available accommodation.

    Just ask yourself why we have people sleeping on the street now , and why Local Authorities cannot cope !

    Do not get me wrong, I am all for helping those in dire need who cannot help themselves in some way, but let us be careful about who and why. The present so called system is in chaos, and an absolute shambles, It will and is getting worse every year, because we are continuing to add more people to our present population every year without the infrastructure to support them.

  18. Narrow Shoulders
    March 10, 2022

    Why are the people who are prepared to offer a place to a Ukrainian refugee in their homes not off seeking a UK homeless person to house?

    The media coverage of this war has been blanket and so our social media generation want to be seen to be involved, it always has to be about them. There is far too much of our TV news, newspaper pages and online coverage is taken up with reports from Ukraine. It is as though our media has forgotten how to cover multiple stories in depth following their exhaustive coverage of Covid and the UK leaving the EU.

    There are other matters for us to concern ourselves with – when is your PM going to go? Why is my cost of living so high? and when will my daughter be able to see a consultant? among many other home issues.

    Ukraine is very far down my list.

    1. Dave Andrews
      March 10, 2022

      Why wouldn’t I house a UK homeless person? Well, the likelihood is they will have drink or drug dependency, have severe mental illness, behaviour problems, not someone I could trust in my house when I go to work. I would need to be a full time experienced social worker to cope with them.
      The genuine Ukrainian refugees on the other hand are most likely to be reasonable people and trustworthy.

    2. Cheshire Girl
      March 10, 2022

      What I find alarming, is that the Refugees will have ā€˜access to benefitsā€™ from Day 1. How on earth are we going to be able to afford all this!
      I know that this will be an uncomfortable question for the Government, but the public is entitled to ask it.
      I sometimes think our Politicians live in a dream world, where there are unlimited funds for everything they want to do. The taxpayer is allowed absolutely no say in all of this, but is expected to pay for it, with no complaint.

      1. Everhopeful
        March 10, 2022

        +1
        Cloward-Piven Strategy?
        Certainly feels like it.

    3. agricola
      March 10, 2022

      S-W, sounds practical. I would only add a good coms facility so that the refugees can keep contact with their loved ones who cannot escape.

    4. Nottingham Lad Himself
      March 10, 2022

      Narrow indeed are your shoulders.

    5. Philip P.
      March 10, 2022

      Absolutely right, Narrow S. I want to know how far about Ā£2 a litre petrol has to go before the government steps back from its insane sanctions war on Russia. All previous experience shows that sanctions do not bring down other countries’ governments – look at Cuba, which has endured 60 years of US sanctions. Or Venezuela (and now Biden is begging them to help out with the oil shortage that he and Johnson have helped to create).

      All the signs are that NATO is planning long-term guerilla war on Russia in Ukraine in future, with the usual bearded proxies fighting Russia as per Afghanistan in the Soviet era. In that case, NATO strategy will have been achieved, and globally disastrous trade sanctions can be quickly brought to an end before they ruin us too.

  19. Sea_Warrior
    March 10, 2022

    I am moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people but we are pretty full – as our ‘housing crisis’ demonstrates. Welcoming their refugees, and those of Hong Kong, should be accompanied by visa revocations for Russians and Chinese nationals working and studying here, and a mass return of the dinghyists to their COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN.
    Yesterday, I gave some thought as to what a modern British refugee centre might look like. It would need to:
    (1) Be close to areas with a shortage of unskilled labour.
    (2) Offer on-site primary health care.
    (3) Offer free, on-site child-care, so both parents can go out to work. (Refugees would receive no financial aid.)
    (4) Offer accommodation that was warm and dry but not so good as to act as a pull-factor. (Any sea warrior could design it!) The occupants would be expected to move out into private accommodation , paid for by them, with 3-4 months.
    And may I encourage your readers to visit the DEC website and consider making a donation.

    1. Peter Wood
      March 10, 2022

      Your point is well made; what do we expect in return from those to whom we offer refuge. There will be professionals, experienced technical people and medical staff as well as unskilled folk. Do we try to find appropriate employment for our guests? I hope we do, it would certainly limit the cost and critics.

      1. Sea_Warrior
        March 10, 2022

        Professionals should, of course, be guided towards better-paid work. As for the unskilled, fruit-picking pays over Ā£200/day, so that’s why I’ll stick with my ‘no financial support line’ – and I’ll also oppose citizenship for any immigrant who isn’t a net contributor to the public purse.

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          March 10, 2022

          Why don’t you extend your last proposition to everyone here?

          That would lose most Leave voters their passports, wouldn’t it?

          1. Peter2
            March 10, 2022

            Stupid response from you NHL
            You had to be a citizen to vote in the referendum.

          2. Andy
            March 10, 2022

            And nearly all pensioners.

          3. Sea_Warrior
            March 11, 2022

            You sometimes make good points – but mostly, you don’t.

          4. Nottingham Lad Himself
            March 11, 2022

            Steady, Andy, I’m a pensioner.

            About one-in-three of us who voted did so for Remain as I did, and markedly more so among those who remembered WWII.

            Sadly, only about one-in-three of the under 25s voted at all in the referendum.

            If only, eh?

            SW, I’m just making the point that those who think that rigorous standards should apply to others generally think that they themselves should be exempt.

        2. hefner
          March 10, 2022

          I searched tariffs for the 2021 fruit picking season (when there was already some increased rates due to lack of manpower linked to Covid) and the highest salary I could find was for a 12-hour day at Ā£9.05 / hour daytime, Ā£9.35/hour nighttime in Cambridgeshire, which makes either Ā£108.60 or Ā£112.20/day. There was a premium of Ā£75 for whoever was finishing the full picking season with that particular orchard.

          Rather different from your over Ā£200/day. And then there is the tiny problem that the picking season for fruits only starts in May/June with rhubarb and early berries and ends in November with some late apples.
          So how will the ā€˜unskilledā€™ be surviving before the picking season starts?

  20. Norman
    March 10, 2022

    Britain’s generous spirit is laudable, but we do need to identify the available accommodation. I remember after WW2, in South Bucks where I lived then, there were several old troop encampments where displaced persons, mainly Poles and Lithuanians, were housed. The older folk never really integrated, but the cold war exiled them for decades, until many died away from their longed-for homeland. I remember still the sad look in their eyes. We should do what we can.

  21. Richard II
    March 10, 2022

    The best way to address the refugee crisis is to end the war. The best way to end the war is by negotiated settlement, not by brutal conquest. Well done Turkey for hosting peace talks.

    Ukraine needs to agree to implementing the conditions of the Minsk II agreement it has refused to carry out for the last seven years. Devolved local autonomy for the two Donbas republics within Ukraine, not as part of Russia.

    I hope it’s not too late for that now.

  22. Michelle
    March 10, 2022

    First of all I sincerely hope the Ukrainian’s soon have a home and their men folk to return to. I am anti EU but not anti-European and see these people as close relatives.
    It is surely always best that people stay as close to their home as possible for all sorts of reasons.
    I’m amazed at the usual suspects who want to bring in the world and his Uncle from completely different cultures and then whine about these people being adrift from their culture. We are endlessly blamed and expected to change our ways to suit. Is it any wonder people are becoming jaded and just a little fed up with it all.
    We would do far more good by not ripping them away from their own regions and culture, just so that the usual suspects here can get their virtue signalling bandwagon on the road. I’m tired of these people and I don’t think they have human interests at heart at all, it’s all about them and their political/ideological motives.
    We are extremely generous as a nation and this generosity would be better put to affect by helping people to stay closer to home wherever possible.

    What a stark contrast between the Ukrainian people and those arriving here daily, having left the safety of another European country.
    The Ukrainian people have not taken advantage of their situation and come rushing full pelt for England’s shores, in fact seem to be asking for help to be kept nearer home in Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe has not had an open door policy for decades and seems to stand its ground over this. They are therefore not hampered by the problems we have because of mass immigration.
    Those arriving daily on the south coast are claiming to come from war or persecution. When you are terrified you kiss the ground and thank God for your safety which must seem heavenly having come from a place of terror.
    You do not then go off across a whole Continent, live in make shift accommodation, run the gauntlet of abuse from traffickers etc, to then make a perilous sea crossing.
    You certainly do not drag children away from the first safe place you come to on such a perilous journey.

    Again it’s those with vested interests in keeping the boats arriving that are to blame and their lack of life experience from their ivory towers shows. They are also aiding and abetting people traffickers who will continue to make huge sums all the while there is a thriving business of busting in to England.

  23. agricola
    March 10, 2022

    This is a humanitarian situation, much less an administrative or regulation based situation. A&R are not a British forte, we could cockup offering a glass of water, left to our civil servants. The military and general public are a totally different ballgame. A&R are responsible for the dreadful standards of accomodation offered to too many of our own citizens to be trusted to look after Ukrainian refugees.

    So on a personal level, what can you offer in your home to a refugee lady and two children. I live about as far as you can get in Europe from Ukraine, but if any such family turns up in Spain I am happy to offer two bedrooms and bathrooms. Other costs are about the same as having members of my family to stay. Life is largely outdoors, the pool would keep the children happy, my cleaning lady has a Polish partner, and one of my neighbours is Ukrainian. I might hone my skills at producing food that I don’t normally cook. I could dust off my Hungarian cookbook.

    I doubt I will be called upon but that is what I can offer.

  24. Fedupsoutherner
    March 10, 2022

    No to refugees in our homes John. Fine if their families want to take them in for the short term but not 3 years. My husband has been waiting for an important hospital check up now for 2 months already for a camera into his stomach. Finally yesterday a letter arrived for…wait for it…..a telephone consultation…yes for the stomach..and wait again… in another 6 months!! And we want more people let into the country. Far from being selfish, my husband has paid tax and NI all his life but now gets a diabolical service. We are already taking in and paying for hundreds of so called immigrants every day. Enough is enough. By all means help the countries nearer to UKraine but no more here. Our services are at breaking point now.

    1. Mark B
      March 10, 2022

      Sorry to hear this. Good luck to both of you.

  25. Iain Moore
    March 10, 2022

    Patrick O’Flynn in the Spectator points out we have 1 million people on Social Housing waiting lists, several thousand homeless ex servicemen, at least 400 sleeping rough every night, with the Government still trying to home 15,000 Afghans they brought here, and of course the 25,000 dinghy invaders the Government has put up in hotels, but rather than actually try fix any of these problems they have piled up, our politicians and media have moved on in their search for virtue signalling Olympic glory.

    1. Sea_Warrior
      March 10, 2022

      My local councillor was content for Afghan refugees to be put up, for free, in MoD housing. She isn’t getting my vote in May.

  26. majorfrustration
    March 10, 2022

    I seem to recall that during a previous refugee crisis Mr and Mrs Balls offered to take in a family – how did that go?

    1. Mickey Taking
      March 11, 2022

      Bob Geldof urged us all – and he said he would take in several families. I think it was then one Professional gentleman, who moved out after a few weeks.
      Sainthood later Bob.

  27. Alan Paul Joyce
    March 10, 2022

    Dear Mr. Redwood,

    5,000,000 from the EU.
    250,000 net immigration per year.
    28,000 crossed the Channel in 2021.
    89,000 visa applications from Hong Kong so far.

    What extra capacity will be added to schools, GP and hospital services?

    It’s quite the best laugh I’ve had in ages!

    If the government had not been so useless on immigration then many Ukrainian people fleeing war and other genuine refugees would be welcomed and could be accommodated.

  28. oldtimer
    March 10, 2022

    My understanding is that Ukrainian refugees are entering the EU under its Temporary Protection Directive, which enables them to stay for three years. It is appropriate because the EU countries that border Ukraine are the only place they can escape to and, as the Ukrainian ambassador said, they want to remain close to Ukraine so they can more easily return once the conflict has ended. The UK does not meet these criteria nor need it feel bound by this Directive. The two UK visa schemes already in place seem appropriate to me but, reportedly, implementation has lacked the sense of urgency the situation demands. I am unconvinced about the wisdom of the third scheme. The government would be better advised to focus on rebuilding the UK’s national energy security and food security defences. Under current policies these have not only been neglected, they have actively been damaged by this and previous government policies. MPs are fully complicit in supporting their degradation. They need to wake up to reality and reverse course without further delay or obfuscation.

    1. Clough
      March 10, 2022

      Hear, hear, Oldtimer. But you want MPs to wake up to reality? They’re mostly in the Westminster bubble. Several commentators on this site have said how little response they get from their MPs when they write asking them to do just that.

  29. BOF
    March 10, 2022

    What a stark contrast.

    Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children, seeking TEMPORARY refuge, have to make all the appropriate applications and jump through the hoops, while men of fighting age defend their country from an agressor.

    Men of fighting age leave the women and children behind to live in poverty in corrupt and war torn countries, while they destroy their ID documents and pay large sums of money to cross the channel, are welcomed, given accommodation in 4* hotels plus pocket money.

    I’m all for the former, but not the latter.

  30. William Long
    March 10, 2022

    Legislation based on emotion almost always produces bad law. Your questions are all good ones, and a major problem down the line is, almost inevitably, that many of the proposed kind hosts will have got fed up with their guests long before the three years is up.
    Another question is: what rights are these refugees going to be given in respect of employment? Will they be taking jobs from our own workers?
    Why are they any better than those who have the temerity to cross the Channel in rubber dinghies?

  31. Maylor
    March 10, 2022

    We cannot see the Ukraine refugee issue in isolation. We need to consider the impact on our existing population, services and resources.

    If the govt had managed to control illegal immigration from Calais, we would have been in a better position to help genuine refugees.

    The Ukrainian crisis makes it imperative that we get control ASAP over who comes and remains in this country.

  32. glen cullen
    March 10, 2022

    We need to be honest in our assessment; refugees are no longer refugees once theyā€™ve passed via a ā€˜safeā€™ country. I see no problem with taking ā€˜transit-refugeesā€™ when they become a burden to that first host countryā€¦.In any case they should be fully vetted with visa for the time of that emergency and only allocated accommodation if there isnā€™t a burden on our own housing, council, school and medical services (we shouldnā€™t be taking in transit-refugees to put up in 4*hotels)

  33. Original Richard
    March 10, 2022

    Neither Putin or Xi need to invade us. We have a very powerful and vocal communist fifth column working in the Civil Service, judiciary, universities, unelected authorities and the media who are working to achieve their aims by convincing our politicians that we must save the world.

    Their global warming scam is designed to make us believe that we can save the world by eliminating our 1% of global CO2 emissions through the economy destroying Net Zero Strategy.

    Their immigration policy of ā€œlet them in ā€“ as many as wish to come ā€“ and sort out the details laterā€ is designed to cause social upheaval as well as economic destruction as we find ourselves unable to cope.

    They constantly gas-light us with false scientific facts on climate and biology. They lead us to believe that diversity is more important than meritocracy, one of the enlightened Westā€™s most powerful tools for equality and prosperity.

  34. J Bush
    March 10, 2022

    “The U.K. is now drawing up a third scheme to offer 3 year visas to refugees without family contacts. This scheme will harness the generous spirits of U.K. citizens who want to offer free accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. I would be interested in your thoughts on this scheme.”

    I would like to see all the politicians who agree with this proposal putting their homes and their money where they mouth is, and lead by example…I shan’t hold my breath

    1. Everhopeful
      March 10, 2022

      +1
      My spirit is no longer generous.
      Flinty maybe but certainly not generous.
      Let Johnson speak for himself.
      And his wallet and nut nutā€™s cooking and cleaning skills.

      1. glen cullen
        March 10, 2022

        Well said

  35. a-tracy
    March 10, 2022

    If the majority of people that don’t vote Tory, as Andy says above, have a spare room is there somewhere they can register their spare room and how many refugees they can take, how long is our government hoping that this take before it is over; a couple of weeks, months, years? Putin is blowing up people’s homes who will pay to rebuild them all The Russians?
    All the farmers that need workers and have accommodation for the refugees on the farms, they have jobs and accommodation has this been coordinated?
    If these good people take in refugees is there going to be a scheme to help them to pay for the extra energy, food, clothes allowances etc. for the re-homers, it has got to be less cost than hotels.

    1. Everhopeful
      March 10, 2022

      +1
      Come on now.
      Donā€™t let the good people jump the queue!
      MPs, Lords and Royalty first.
      Lots of spare rooms in leafy suburb homes, stately piles and palaces.
      Let the elite take their share.
      Letā€™s be generousā€¦.MORE than their fair share.
      Plenty of space for cabins in number 10ā€™s garden.
      FINALLY make them put their money where their bloody noisy mouths are!

      1. a-tracy
        March 10, 2022

        And the church, I heard them on the radio criticising the government and wanting the taxpayers to do more, pay more to do more, what are the churches doing, are they giving up 10% of their assets building dormitories on their land holdings to house them, everyone who shouts loudest seems to me to do the least. I agree virtue signalling makes them look good without any expectations on them to put their estates, money and resources where their mouths are.

        1. glen cullen
          March 10, 2022

          rein of the borgia family – the church know how to tax people

  36. Everhopeful
    March 10, 2022

    Well it all seems to me like the continuation of a very long-running and tedious pantomime.
    Covid over, stats for jab injury strangely released ā€¦and whoops a seven year old war is suddenly inflated into WW3.
    More death and destruction, more turmoil.
    Less stability, less gas, less food and fewer people!
    How very odd.
    Letā€™s all stand up and clap!

    1. Everhopeful
      March 10, 2022

      Plus of course more opportunities for imprisonment and restrictions.
      Will it be disease spread by war or radioactive fall out?
      Mask up and stay indoors!

  37. Shirley M
    March 10, 2022

    This government excels at one thing, and one thing only, ie. making promises they cannot, or will not, keep. The manifesto soon went out the window, and now they are promising homes and everything else to illegal immigrants and refugees from all over the world. We don’t have any spare homes, and we cannot even provide essential services to the people of the UK, so how on earth will they fulfil these promises to immigrants/refugees? More people makes the problem worse, not better.

    Will someone please ask the government to explain why they lie to everyone and why they double down on the problems they are causing?

  38. rose
    March 10, 2022

    As the loud mouthed louts in Parliament and the media are prevailing, it cannot be emphasised enough that the people being driven out of their country by the Russians don’t want to give up that country. They – the women and children who are leaving – want to stay as close by as possible, to be near their husbands and near their homes. We have been the most generous country in the past in paying the expense of that – as we did for the Syrians in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan- and this should be recognized by the tax payers themselves, too many of whom are all too prone to scream how ashamed they are of their country, because they have been given false or incomplete information by the media and MPs. It should also be explained to these self loathers that the President of the Ukraine himself does not want the women and children going a long way off and possibly starting just the very population drain Putin wants. So the Home Secretary Haters should stop trying to bring people here just to show off. Of course some will want to come to stay with family.

  39. Lester Beedell
    March 10, 2022

    I think that the numbers of people
    expressing dissatisfaction with the government speaks volumes, just how much longer can your diary continue?

    I think that most people arenā€™t fooled anymore

  40. BeebTax
    March 10, 2022

    Letting in people with no connection here? Itā€™s a crazy idea pandering to the chattering classes, those who want cheap malleable labour, and those that have been brainwashed by the woke MSM.

    ā€œA Ukrainian is not just for Christmasā€ ought to be the accompanying slogan. The do-Gooders will be fed up with their guests after 3 months, let alone 3 years. Then what?

    A lot of horrible things happen to people all over the planet. Weā€™re not obliged to help. Inflation is throughout the roof and ordinary people are going to feel severe financial pain. Spend our borrowed money on them, not on refugees from a foreign land. And donā€™t use this ā€œcrisisā€ to distract attention from the right royal mess our government has made of things here.

    Not with you on this one, kind host.

  41. Mactheknife
    March 10, 2022

    Whilst we all feel compassion for the people of Ukraine, we have to look at the track record or governments, and yes I include Labour in this, , the record of abuse of our asylum system and the lack of action taken against those who have abused it is staggering.

    We cannot be the hub for the worlds displaced and homeless, with all of cost, risk and systemic abuse it brings. Our most recent terrorist attacks have come from those whom we took in and gave shelter. I’m not saying that Ukrainians would do this, just that taking in people with no checks on who they are and their motives is a risky game.

    If they have friends and relatives who are willing to take them in and support them after being checked, that’s OK, but we have a massive cost of living crisis which is affecting all sections of society, in case anyone in government has noticed. So does my hard earned cash get used again ? Are we going to fill up all the 5* hotels at 5M a day ?

    If the government even recognised the poverty being inflicted on our own society, and did something about it, we may have a more generous outlook. But I have to still keep paying my 25% green tax and 5% VAT of fuel, watch my bank balance shrink, pension value crash…and more.

  42. Pauline Baxter
    March 10, 2022

    Well Sir, you are right to advise against the 3 year visas.

    The elephant in the room though is, – Why are we involved in any way at all?
    We are not in E.U. now. (Are we??)
    Ukraine is not in N.A.T.O., nor should it be.
    Nor should it become part of E.U. in my opinion.
    What war does Boris think he is waging, by hanging onto Biden’s shirt tails? WW2?

  43. Lester_Cynic
    March 10, 2022

    Your comment is awaiting moderation, why am I not surprised?

    Reply I have many things to do so I am not waiting for your latest missive

    1. Lester_Cynic
      March 10, 2022

      Iā€™m so disappointed to hear that /sarc

    2. Lester_Cynic
      March 10, 2022

      Plus a long history of comments disappearing breeds suspicion

  44. agricola
    March 10, 2022

    Should the PM have a Damascene moment, and survive the marital upheaval of accepting that his green policy on fuel is in no way fit for purpose. It is in fact an electoral Claymore mine. The new policy needs to be removed from the hands of the civil service wet hands that have to date been responsible for our descent into fuel poverty. It needs to be run by a modern day Lord Beverbrook as was the Covid vaccine programme.
    I do not buy into current talk of years to get fracking. Technology is not the problem, but legacy EU thinking probably is. Nor should there be delay in getting storage facilities created and off shore wells being switched on. I await with interest for the details of the new master plan. It had better be good.

  45. glen cullen
    March 10, 2022

    My local Shell garage today – petrol E10 Ā£1.75p

    1. Bob Dixon
      March 10, 2022

      Buy their share.

  46. Iain Gill
    March 10, 2022

    well said John

    there would be more space if they got on with throwing people who have failed asylum appeals from the country

  47. Mickey Taking
    March 10, 2022

    Could Putin be tried for war crimes?
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described an attack on a maternity and children’s hospital as a “war crime”.
    It may not seem like it, but “even war has rules”, as the International Committee of the Red Cross puts it. These are contained in treaties called the Geneva Conventions and a string of other international laws and agreements. What is a war crime?
    Civilians cannot be deliberately attacked – nor can the infrastructure that is vital to their survival.

  48. Geoffrey Berg
    March 10, 2022

    I was against taking any Syrian or Afghan refugees. Immigration is out of control and the only workable way to start controlling it is to impose a moratorium for at least 5years and then start an entirely new and more restrictive system.
    That said Ukraine is now an emergency on our continent and Ukrainians would integrate better and respect our ways more than many Syrians or Afghans. So I think a very limited exception to the moratorium I want may be made so that we don’t end up with more than 1% of the refugees, and that mostly on a short term basis
    (initial one year visas only for those without parents,wives,husbands or children already in Britain).
    Accommodation is also a problem. There is now a massive shortage of housing to rent caused in no small part by recent government legislation and new private rental regulations(e.g energy efficiency standards, electrical certificates etc., for the private rental housing sector)that is making it illegal or impractical to let so many empty houses privately,especially on a stop-gap short or even medium term basis (pending a sale or one,s retirement or even while working away). That urgently needs rectifying.

  49. John McDonald
    March 10, 2022

    Dear Sir John, I now understand the mind set of Government. It starts or aids wars in other countries to look good. Then invites all the displaced persons to come to this country to look good again. Millions die and a great deal of suffering in the process. But the government never gets the blame. Why not try and stop the War in Ukraine and we would not have the problem to face. After all the UK via Nato and the EU did start it in 2014.

  50. Paul Cuthbertson
    March 11, 2022

    It is all part of the Globalist plan. Do you think your government cares about YOU?

  51. DavidJ
    March 11, 2022

    I am bound to compare this invitation to the cost and difficulty of bringing my legitimate wife (of many years) to reside in the UK.

  52. Wokinghamite
    March 11, 2022

    We don’t have the infrastructure to take a lot of refugees. Our health service is barely coping with the existing population, and many illegal immigrants are arriving here daily. It would be more just if the Russians took a large number of refugees. After all, it is they who have caused them to be displaced and they are a much closer neighbour. Why do we have to foot the bill for it?

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