Welcome for government’s Ukraine families boost

Local MP's debate heralds change

Families fleeing war in Ukraine will be able to stay in the UK for longer after a change of heart by the government.

The news came during a House of Commons debate led by Newton Abbot’s Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley.

He said in three and half years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, around seven million Ukrainians – more than 15 per cent of the population – had sought sanctuary in other countries.

Just under 270,000 visas under the Homes for Ukraine scheme have been issued for Ukrainians to come to the UK, of whom 2,399 are in Devon. The visas were initially for three years, and the scheme was extended by 18 months in February this year.

However, Mr Wrigley said people who had integrated into society, taken jobs, rented flats and paid taxes were starting to face the fact that they had less than 12 months left on their visas.

He said: “Ukrainians are scared of what happens next, and we have no answer for them. They see reports of their countrymen being refused asylum in the UK because it is said to be safe to return to Ukraine, even while Putin’s drones explode in Ukraine’s cities in record numbers.”

He said Ukrainian guests needed certainty, and gave examples of guest families living in the Newton Abbot area, two of whom were trying to become much-needed local dentists.

Government minister Seema Malhotra said: “The United Kingdom has rightly offered support and sanctuary to our Ukrainian friends in their hour of need, and we should all reflect on that with pride.The government will continue to do right by the Ukrainian people.”

She said the government would be extending the leave for people from Ukraine to stay in the UK beyond 18 months.

She went on: “I understand the need to provide certainty, particularly in relation to education.”