UK work visas for Ukrainian refugees comment blasted

UK immigration minister, Kevin Foster, has been blasted for suggesting that Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland should ‘apply for work visas’ to enter the UK. The Torbay MP and Home Office minister posted on Twitter that there are ‘a number of UK visa routes available to Ukrainians, including the seasonal worker visa’.

Foster’s tweet has since been deleted, but not before being met by a backlash from other MPs. Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Copper, tweeted her ‘astonishment’ at Mr Foster’s comments.

Meanwhile, Plymouth MP Luke Pollard, responded to Foster’s tweet saying: “I recently pressed Ministers on opening safe routes to sanctuary in Britain for those fleeing war in Ukraine. The UK Immigration Minister replied suggesting visas to pick fruit on British farms. I like Kevin but this was painfully unaware and unkind. We need safe routes open now.”

Welcome Ukrainian refugees

Following Russia’s highly condemned invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of UK charities have urged the government to welcome thousands of Ukrainian refugees desperately fleeing the conflict.

Mr Foster was replying to MP Luke Pollard, who is also the shadow armed forces minister, on Twitter after Pollard raised concerns about UK visa restrictions on refugees from the Ukraine. 

Pollard stated that he was ‘looking for a route for people fleeing Ukraine who might not have a family link in the UK’. He said: “We have a moral obligation to help them. Will you now change policy to do exactly that?”

Foster replied, in a post since deleted, saying: “As you will be well aware there are a number of routes, not least our seasonal worker scheme you will recall from your Shadow Defra days, which Ukrainians can qualify for, alongside the family route for those with relatives here.”

The immigration minister later added: “Hi Luke. It's just one of several routes and we will do more as the PM has made clear.”

Yvette Cooper dismayed

Wading in on Mr Foster’s comments, Yvette Cooper tweeted: “My God, people are fleeing war in Europe, the like we haven’t seen in generations, in search of swift sanctuary. Yet the immigration minister says the answer is they should put in an application to pick Britain’s fruit & veg.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has described government changes to UK visa rules for Ukrainians as ‘shameful’. Despite a number of promises made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, many close relatives of British nationals in the Ukraine, don’t meet visa criteria.

Johnson had said: “Any person settled in the UK will be able to bring their Ukrainian immediate family members to join them here. This will benefit many thousands of people who at this moment are making desperate choices about their future.”

Home Office guidance

However, after the Home Office published new guidance on its website following the Prime Minister’s comments, Yvette Cooper was critical of the government, saying that many close family relatives of UK nationals would not be covered by the new rules.

The free UK visas promised by the government are only available to spouses, unmarried partners of at least two years, parents or their children if one is under 18, or adult relatives who are also carers.

Cooper tweeted: “What are they thinking? What about people struggling to get elderly parents here, or Ukrainians who can’t come stay with sister or brother here?”

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Alister Carmichael, described the announcement as ‘woefully inadequate’.

Enver Solomon, the head of the Refugee Council, said: “We urgently need the government to announce a clear plan which immediately relaxes visa requirements to allow family members of Ukrainians in the UK to join them here.”

“We must uphold our tradition of supporting people fleeing war and persecution by sending a clear signal to Ukrainian families that they are welcome in the UK,” Mr Solomon added.

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