The Welsh Liberal Democrats have continued to call on Priti
Patel to withdraw the Nationality and Borders Bill in light of the war in
Ukraine and the ensuing refugee crisis.
MPs are set to debate some of the Bill’s most controversial
aspects in the House of Commons today [Tuesday 22nd March], 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.
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds who worked for 6
years as the Head of Children’s Services at the Refugee Council, has previously
called on the Government to begin airlifts to bring refugees from Poland
directly to the UK and cancel the need for any visas.
Ahead of the debate, Jane Dodds MS said:
“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 Welsh people and ditch it now. If not she
should be sacked.
“Wales has a great history of providing sanctuary to
desperate people fleeing war and persecution. Yet this Conservative Government
are stopping Wales becoming the nation of sanctuary we want to be.
“This Anti-Refugee Bill undermines that proud Welsh
tradition and the Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to fiercely oppose it.”
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