Extensive work continues, locally here in the Brentwood and Ongar constituency and nationally at Government level, to provide support for those most severely affected by the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The Home Office has pulled out all the stops to establish the Ukrainian Family Scheme which allows family members of British nationals, UK settled persons and certain others to come or stay in the UK. Those joining the Scheme will be granted leave for three years and will be able to work and access public funds. The Scheme is also free and does not include any salary or language requirements.
I am in close contact with the Home Office on behalf of constituents who are trying to get family members across from Ukraine to join them here, and will continue to help those in most need. The guidance is changing all the time, but this week’s headline news is that the government is cutting red tape to ensure Ukrainians with passports will be able to get permission to come to the UK by applying online and will be able to give their biometrics once in Britain.
I’m currently dealing with a number of campaign emails from constituents who think the Government needs to abandon security checks in the face of the urgent need to get those fleeing Ukraine to a place of safety. Sadly, given the acute security challenges in Ukraine, Russian efforts to infiltrate and merge with Ukrainian forces, the presence of extremists on the ground and Putin’s willingness to use violence on British soil, it is right that the Government continues to protect the public by maintaining some basic checks. This is a policy that has been retained consistently throughout all emergency evacuations, including in Afghanistan.
The Government is offering support to those still in Ukraine too. 500 mobile generators are being sent to Ukraine to help keep the lights on and phones charged so those sheltering in basements from shelling can keep in touch with the outside world.
And from this week you can volunteer to house Ukrainian refugees who need shelter in the UK. Essex County Council is pulling together information about all the volunteers and groups who are offering help of any kind and you can find more information here:
https://www.essex.gov.uk/news/essex-stands-with-ukraine-what-you-can-do-to-help
We all stand with Ukraine.
