Ukraine crisis should force Patel to ditch Anti-Refugee Bill

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Priti Patel to withdraw the Nationality and Borders Bill in light of the war in Ukraine and ensuing refugee crisis. MPs are set to debate some of the Bill’s most controversial aspects in the House of Commons tomorrow, including Government plans to: Criminalise refugees simply for coming to the UK to seek asylum. “Offshore” asylum seekers by sending them to another country while their claims are processed. Create a second class of refugees with fewer rights and only temporary protection. The Liberal Democrats worked with others in the House of Lords to pass amendments that would remove these laws from the Bill, highlighting that they would criminalise people fleeing Ukraine who come to the UK seeking asylum. So far, 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Vladimir Putin unleashed his war, according to the UNHCR. More than 150,000 people across the UK have offered to host Ukrainian refugees through the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ programme, but so far the Government has only issued 10,200 visas under the Ukraine Family Scheme.  Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the Government to begin airlifts to bring refugees from Poland directly to the UK. Ahead of the debate, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “The Conservatives’ Anti-Refugee Bill is dangerous and cruel. It flies in the face of the enormous compassion and generosity that people across the UK have shown in response to people fleeing Putin’s war in Ukraine. “It beggars belief that Priti Patel is still trying to push this Bill through at a time when protecting refugees has never been so important. She should listen to the British people and ditch it now. “The UK has a great history of providing sanctuary to desperate people fleeing war and persecution. This Anti-Refugee Bill undermines that proud British tradition and Liberal Democrats will continue to fiercely oppose it.”