Honiton: Local MP urges the UK government to act faster to help Ukrainians enter the UK

Member of Parliament for Honiton and Tiverton Neil Parish has told Nub News that he believes the UK government need to do more to help Ukrainian refugees enter the UK.

The war in Ukraine is now in its second week. More than two million Ukrainians have fled their homes. Poland alone has accepted 1.2 million people.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees described the situation as the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.

The UK has announced two visa schemes to help Ukrainian refugees, but, according to Sky News, only 5% of applications have been approved so far.

The Ukraine Family Scheme permits refugees to join relatives who are already living in Britain.

A second visa scheme will enable people, as well as organisations, to sponsor Ukrainians and match them with a family, whether they have ties to the UK or not. This scheme is not yet operational.

However, long queues at border points and confusion over how to apply has led to the government being accused of imposing impractical requirements on refugees seeking to enter the UK.

For example, part of the application process involves applying online and then individuals are told to book an appointment at an application centre. However, these centres are in Ukraine and are closed because of the war, forcing millions to make the journey across Europe.

Neil Parish told Nub News: "It is right that there are security checks on people coming into the country, given that those seeking asylum have come from a war zone.

"However, the Home Office needs to act with much more urgency, both in issuing visas via the family route, and in setting up its new humanitarian visa scheme."

Last week Neil urged the UK government to strengthen it's response to the Russian invasion with more severe sanctions.