Putin 's war is a direct challenge to the values that we hold dear.
He rules with oppression, he crushes dissent and has started an illegal war based on a lie.
We knew for weeks this invasion was coming but our government is totally ill-prepared.
Some 600 Ukrainians are now stuck in Calais, having been turned away from joining family here.
Instead, they have been told to travel hundreds of miles to visa centres in Paris where there are no visa appointments until next week, or to Brussels where the visa centre is only open part-time.
Priti Patel told us two days ago she had set up a new visa centre on route to Calais, but then admitted no-one knows where it is and it still isn’t open.
Image:
EyePress News/REX/Shutterstock)This is totally chaotic.
People are struggling to get appointments in Poland too.
Many families still aren’t included in the Home Secretary’s scheme, and there is no way yet for people to join friends here.
Home Office bureaucracy is slowing everything down. The families I’ve heard from are tired and desperate.
Elderly women are having to stay in a community centre. Exhausted children have spent days in the back of cars.
Image:
PA)This chaos and delay is deeply wrong and lets Ukrainian families down in their time of need. Most Ukrainians want to stay close to their homeland so they can return as soon as they can. But the UK must play our part.
Labour is calling on the Government to get a grip and get teams in place at centres all along the way who can urgently issue emergency protection visas for those who want to come here.
The British people have made it clear that they believe Ukrainians fleeing Russian tyranny should be welcomed.
Our proud tradition of providing sanctuary is part of who we are.
We should not forget that now.
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