The UK government is under pressure after it was revealed that only about 50 visas have been granted to Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country from the Russian invasion.
On Monday, Foreign Office minister James Cleverly claimed the application scheme has “only just started”, amid accusations the process is too difficult, with the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK calling for it to be “simplified”.
The Home Office said on Sunday that “around 50” visas had been granted under the Ukraine Family Scheme, despite a promise last week from prime minister Boris Johnson that the UK may welcome more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees.
More than one million refugees have already been allowed to pass into neighbouring Poland.
Polish border guards said the number of people crossing since Russian troops advanced into Ukraine on February 24 had reached a million, saying this was ‘a million human tragedies’
The Home Office said 5,535 online applications have been completed and submitted online and 2,368 people had booked a visa appointment to submit their application and biometric information.
It said 11,750 people have started, but not completed, an online application.
Challenged over the small number of visas granted so far, Cleverly told Sky News: “We have made it absolutely clear we want to support Ukrainians who are seeking refuge, both those who have family connections here in the UK and, indeed, those who don’t.
“Over the last 10 days or so we have seen huge numbers of people leaving Ukraine, fleeing from the conflict, we will support them in the places that they currently are – which is typically in countries bordering Ukraine.
“But we will, of course, also welcome Ukrainians here to the UK.”
Cleverly acknowledged that “only small numbers have come so far” but “the process has only just started”.
In a separate interview on Monday with LBC radio, Cleverly said the number of Ukrainians being granted visas for the UK would increase “very, very quickly”.
He said: “The numbers of people who are seeking refuge is unprecedented. This is the largest refugee flow that we have seen since the Second World War.”
The Home Office “had to create a system pretty much from scratch”, he said.
“It will take a little time to get the system up and running, that’s now there, I have no doubt that the numbers will start coming through.”
He added that the UK authorities had a “duty of care” to those being let in and checks had to be carried out to assess who they were and what help they required.
“That process will get quicker and slicker and faster, I have no doubt.”
But Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told LBC the scheme is “is certainly not a success”.
He added: “What we need to do is to make sure that we get the Home Office absolutely delivering, to make sure that we get the support for those who are most in need.
“This isn’t some sort of, you know, illegal scam. This is, perfectly obviously, people fleeing for their lives and we need to be absolutely there to support them.”
More than 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled their country after Russia invaded, the United Nations (UN) has said.
