Nicola Sturgeon writes to Boris Johnson to demand Westminster scraps visa rules for Ukrainians
dailyrecord.co.ukNicola Sturgeon has stepped up her demand for the UK Government to scrap all visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees. The First Minister said Scotland was ready to welcome people fleeing the Russian invasion in a letter to Boris Johnson.
The Scottish Government would work alongside local authorities to resettle refugees, she added. It comes as fighting in Ukraine intensifies and the number of people fleeing the eastern European country grows.
More than 600,000 civilians have fled Ukraine according to the UN.The EU estimates that up to four million people may try to leave the country because of the Russian invasion.The Prime Minister has said the UK could take in 200,000 Ukrainian refugees.Businesses will also be able to sponsor a Ukrainian to come to the country with the Home Office is expected to outline more details shortly.In her letter, Sturgeon said: "It is vital that rapid, safe and legal routes be established immediately, cooperating with our international partners wherever possible."We must learn the lessons from the Afghanistan resettlement schemes in order to provide rapid and appropriate support to those who need it.”The letter also says Scotland stands ready to offer refuge and sanctuary for those who may be displaced as it did with the Syrian Resettlement Programme, which saw all 32 local authorities in Scotland welcome Syrian families into their communities.The First Minister added: "For those Ukrainians who were already in the UK prior to Russia’s unprovoked and illegal invasion, the UK Government announcement of temporary visa extensions and in-country visa category switching measures simply do not go far enough."Ukrainians in the UK should be offered the assurance that they will be offered protection
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