I have co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister together with other backbench Conservative MPs, as per the attached graphic.
We are extremely proud that our Government has been leading the world in establishing diplomatic and economic sanctions, and we were one of the first countries to provide additional military equipment and training to help the Ukrainians defend against the wholly unjustified invasion.
In the letter we urged the UK Government to provide as much support as possible to our European partners who are currently the first safe havens for Ukrainian refugees, namely Poland, Moldova, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia.
Earlier today I was pleased to see the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, set out a new route open to keep pace with the developing situation on the ground.
It will enable Ukrainians permanently settled in the UK to stay. They and British Nationals can also bring their Ukrainian family here to seek sanctuary whilst the war is raging. However I, and my co-signatories, will continue to press the Government.
All they need to do is pass biometric and security checks – there are no salary or language tests. Applications are being processed in just hours.
We will also change our existing laws to allow visa penalties where a country has taken significant steps which threaten international peace and security; have led, or are likely to lead, to armed conflict; or breach international humanitarian law.
What is happening in Ukraine is utterly heart-breaking and profoundly wrong. I am glad that the Government are working with international partners and standing with the heroic Ukrainian people.