Immigration minister Kevin Foster has been criticised after he suggested Ukrainians fleeing war should apply for work visas to come to the UK.
In a now-deleted Twitter post, the Conservative MP said Ukrainians could qualify for the seasonal worker scheme – where people can come to the UK for up to six months to work in jobs such as fruit and vegetable picking – or apply for a family visa if they already have a relative in Britain.
Mr Foster posted his message as part of a row about whether the government is still applying normal visa restrictions to those trying to escape the Russian forces attacking Ukraine.
His deleted tweet was in response to Labour’s shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard, who told the government that Britain had a “moral duty” to “urgently sort out a simple sanctuary route to the UK for all who need it”.
Posting a screenshot of Mr Foster’s now-deleted reply, Mr Pollard posted on Twitter: “Yesterday I pressed ministers on opening safe routes to sanctuary in Britain for those fleeing war in Ukraine.
“The 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.”
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was “right” that Mr Foster had deleted his tweet, but said she was still waiting for answers from Home Secretary Priti Patel over what was being done to assist Ukrainians.
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Source : skynews
