Michael Gove says MILLIONS of Britons could be willing to accept Ukrainian refugees with £350-a-month government 'thank you' and first arrivals NEXT WEEK - as minister admits he is not sure if he can host anyone and only 3,000 UK visas issued so far

  • Britons who offer to host Ukrainian refugee will given £350 a month 'thank you' payments from Government 
  • Families, businesses, community groups and religious organisations are all eligible to take part in the scheme 
  • More than 2.3 million people are already thought to have fled Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion

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Michael Gove today suggested millions of Britons could be ready to host Ukrainian refugees with a £350-a-month government 'thank-you' - as he said the first arrivals should be next week.

The Cabinet minister pointed to surveys indicating that as many as one in 10 people are ready to put up people fleeing from the Russian invasion.

But Mr Gove - who recently divorced - admitted he was not yet sure whether he personally will be able to contribute. Keir Starmer confirmed that he is planning to be a host. 

The comments came as Mr Gove revealed that 3,000 visas have now been granted for Ukrainian refugees, with the new 'sponsored' route due to launch this week. 

Under the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, sponsors who provide accommodation rent-free for a minimum of six months will receive a monthly fee of £350 from the government, however many refugees they take. 

Individuals, charities, community groups and businesses will all be eligible to bring those fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine to safety. 

Sponsored refugees will be granted three years leave to remain in the UK and be allowed to work and access public services. 

Mr Gove said the UK 'stands behind Ukraine in their darkest hour', and urged people to 'join the national effort' to help refugees. 

He said he hoped 'tens of thousands' of people will be accommodated in Britain as part of the new scheme as Europe buckles under the weight of its biggest humanitarian crisis since the Second World War.

'People can register their interest on Monday,' he said. 'Matching will be taking place from Friday. I would expect that in a week's time we'll see the first people coming here under the scheme.'

But asked whether he personally would be ready to host a refugees, Mr Gove told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'I am in the process of seeking to see what I can do.'

Mr Gove stressed there will be 'money available for local authorities' to help support new arrivals. 'There will be just over £10,000 per individual available to local authorities,' he said.

'Then there will be additional payments for those children who are of school age and who need to be accommodated within the educational system.' 

More than 2.3 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and another 1.9 million are displaced within the country, a United Nations official has said.  

Under the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, sponsors who provide accommodation rent-free for a minimum of six months will receive their monthly fee, however many refugees they take. Pictured: People board an evacuation train from Kyiv to western Ukraine

Under the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, sponsors who provide accommodation rent-free for a minimum of six months will receive their monthly fee, however many refugees they take. Pictured: People board an evacuation train from Kyiv to western Ukraine

Michael Gove
Keir Starmer

Michael Gove (left) - who recently divorced - admitted he was not yet sure whether he personally will be able to contribute. Keir Starmer (right) confirmed that he is planning to be a host

Millions of refugees have already fled from war-torn Ukraine after Vladimir Putin's forces illegally invaded

Millions of refugees have already fled from war-torn Ukraine after Vladimir Putin's forces illegally invaded

A woman and a baby who fled the war in Ukraine wait to board a bus to take them to Berlin after arriving from the Polish Ukrainian border on March 11, 2022 in Krakow, Poland.

 A woman and a baby who fled the war in Ukraine wait to board a bus to take them to Berlin after arriving from the Polish Ukrainian border on March 11, 2022 in Krakow, Poland.

Ukrainian refugees move through Lviv Railway Station as many people flee to neighboring countries amid the Russian invasion

Ukrainian refugees move through Lviv Railway Station as many people flee to neighboring countries amid the Russian invasion 

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL

Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis.

Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine.

For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families – mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly – fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces.

As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support.

All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services.

In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously.

TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE 

Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate 

To add Gift Aid to a donation – even one already made – complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine

Via bank transfer, please use these details:

Account name: Mail Force Charity

Account number: 48867365

Sort code: 60-00-01

TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE

Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY

TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US

US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003

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The government has been facing stinging criticism over both the speed and scale of its efforts to help fleeing Ukrainians settle in the UK.

The Home Office was heavily criticised for an apparent 'chaotic' response to the humanitarian disaster. 

And Home Secretary Priti Patel was slammed over the slow rate of approval of visas for Ukrainian refugees, prompting Boris Johnson to demand an end to 'hostile leaks' from within her department. 

Those offering accommodation will be vetted and Ukrainian applicants will undergo security checks, as per advice from senior British intelligence officers who feared the implications of lax visa rules. 

To say 'thank you', sponsors will receive a payment of £350 per month, paid for by the Government.

Mr Gove said steps must be taken to ensure people who might be 'intent on exploitation' are prevented from 'abusing' the Government's new refugee sponsorship scheme.

'We absolutely do need to make sure, first of all, that the people in Ukraine are who they say they are, so there need to be some security checks there,' he said.

'There's been understandable concern about the scheme being exploited possibly by criminal elements. So, that's the first thing.

'Then the second thing is we do need to make sure that people here … are in a position to provide that support, which is why there will need to be security checks as well to make sure that those – and I think it would only ever be a tiny minority, but still – those who might be intent on exploitation can be prevented from abusing the system.' 

Alongside ordinary families, communities, volunteers and charitable and religious organisations will all be eligible to sponsor groups of Ukrainians.  

Ukrainians who have sponsors will be granted three years' leave to remain in the UK, with entitlement to work and access public services. 

A website gathering expressions of interest for the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme is set to launch tomorrow.

Mr Gove said: 'The crisis in Ukraine has sent shock waves across the world as hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been forced to flee their homes, leaving everything they know and love behind.

'The UK stands behind Ukraine in their darkest hour and the British public understand the need to get as many people to safety as quickly as we can.

'I urge people across the country to join the national effort and offer support to our Ukrainian friends. Together we can give a safe home to those who so desperately need it.'

However, the Cabinet minister was less clear about his own involvement.

'I'm going to make sure that I do everything I can as an individual to support. And, again, each individual will have their own circumstances,' he said.

'It is the case that something like one in 10 UK citizens, which is an amazing amount, have said that they want to do something to help. But we want to make sure that people are in a position to help, because inevitably it's a significant commitment.

'I recognise that we need to operate in different ways and in different phases to help people who are fleeing persecution.'

Pressed on whether that meant he would be offering a room, he said: 'I'm in the process of seeking to see what I can do, yes.' 

He told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme later: 'Without going into my personal circumstances, there are a couple of things I need to sort out – but yes.' 

The Local Government Association, which represents 350 councils across England and Wales, warned that it must see 'full details' of the scheme.

Chair Cllr James Jamieson said: 'The humanitarian crisis caused by the Ukraine invasion is heart-breaking. Councils are ready to help new arrivals from Ukraine settle in the UK and to support communities who wish to offer assistance to those fleeing the devastating conflict

'Councils will be central in helping families settle into their communities and access public services, including schools, public health and other support, including access to trauma counselling.

'The Government must continue to work closely with councils, the community and voluntary sector and other key local partners to co-design this sponsorship scheme so it can move at pace and scale. We look forward to seeing the full details as soon as possible.'

Shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he 'would love to help' Ukrainian refugees looking to be housed in the UK, but suggested he did not have space.

He told Times Radio: 'I would love to help, without any kind of political consideration or grandstanding.

'I honestly think this is one of the seminal historical moments of our lives, what Russia is doing in Ukraine. I think it will affect policy, politics, how this country's future bears out for years to come.

'You will know we are a family of six here in Stalybridge, so we don't have a lot of room and that might not be as attractive as other places might be.'

He also criticised the Government for not making more preparations for humanitarian aid at an earlier time.

Mr Reynolds said: 'Our intelligence agencies got this right, they saw the build-up of troops … and it genuinely seemed the case that no humanitarian planning was done by the Government alongside the other parts of the assistance Ukraine required to deal with this.'

Meanwhile, the other home nations are drawing up their own plans to house those fleeing the conflict.

Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have said both Scotland and Wales are willing to become 'super sponsors' for Ukrainian refugees.

In a letter to Mr Gove, they also renewed their calls on Westminster to waive all visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals trying to get into the UK.

The governments in Holyrood and Cardiff said super sponsorship would enable Ukrainians to get clearance to enter each country quickly and be housed temporarily while they work with local partners to provide longer term accommodation, safeguarding and access to services.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi announced last week that online lessons will be made available to 100,000 refugee pupils as they transition to 'life and safety' in the UK.

He told BBC's Question Time: 'What you are seeing now is a surge in our capability to take more Ukrainians.

'I can tell you in my own department in education, I have a team that's already making plans for a capacity of 100,000 children that we will take into our schools.'  

More than 2.3 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and another 1.9 million are displaced within the country. Pictured: Desperate Ukrainian refugees wait outside an immigration office in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday, March 9

More than 2.3 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and another 1.9 million are displaced within the country. Pictured: Desperate Ukrainian refugees wait outside an immigration office in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday, March 9

Refugees proceed to a gathering point after crossing the Ukrainian border with Poland at the Medyka border crossing, southeastern Poland

Refugees proceed to a gathering point after crossing the Ukrainian border with Poland at the Medyka border crossing, southeastern Poland

A member of the Ukrainian forces takes position behind a car in Irpin, a neighbouring city of Ukraine which has seen intense bombardment

A member of the Ukrainian forces takes position behind a car in Irpin, a neighbouring city of Ukraine which has seen intense bombardment

 

Seize Russian oligarch mansions to house Ukrainian refugees: Michael Gove demands 'ultimate payback for Putin's cronies' as No10 pledges £350 a month for Brits who take in people fleeing Russia's war

Russian oligarchs' multi-million pound mansions would be seized and used to house Ukrainian refugees under an extraordinary plan being championed by Michael Gove.

The Levelling Up Secretary has argued passionately in Cabinet that the move would be 'payback' for Russian President Vladimir Putin's cronies in Britain.

His plan is being blocked by senior figures in the Treasury and the Foreign Office who believe it is 'not legally workable', but one supporter of the Gove scheme last night angrily described opponents within Government as 'oligarch apologists'.

The row came as No 10 announced that ordinary families who house Ukrainian refugees will be paid £350 a month under a new 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme.

It's hoped that tens of thousands of people will be accommodated under the scheme, helping to tackle Europe's biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. More than 2.3 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and another 1.9 million are displaced within the country, a United Nations official has said.

The plans come after the Home Office was heavily criticised for its 'chaotic' response to the humanitarian disaster.

In contrast, the British people have acted quickly and generously to help. The record-breaking Mail Force Ukraine Appeal has reached a remarkable £6.6 million alone. 

More than 2.3 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and another 1.9 million are displaced within the country

More than 2.3 million people have fled the war in Ukraine and another 1.9 million are displaced within the country

Mr Gove, who first raised the prospect of seizing oligarchs' homes in Cabinet a fortnight ago, ran into opposition last week at the first meeting of a sub-committee looking into the UK's refugee response. At the meeting, Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly and Treasury Minister John Glen expressed their departments' reservations about the idea.

Last night, a backer of Mr Gove's plan said: 'The opposition is being led by oligarch apologists who hide behind the rule of law.' But one of Mr Gove's opponents said the plan is 'not legally workable' and condemned it as 'gesture politics more suited to a banana republic'.

Under the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, sponsors who provide accommodation rent-free for a minimum of six months will receive a 'thank you' of £350 per month, however many refugees they take. Sponsored refugees will be granted three years leave to remain in the UK and be allowed to work and access public services.

Mr Gove said: 'The crisis in Ukraine has sent shockwaves across the world. The UK stands behind Ukraine in their darkest hour and the British public understand the need to get as many people to safety as quickly as we can. I urge people across the country to join the national effort and offer support to our Ukrainian friends.'

A website will launch tomorrow to allow sponsors to register offers of accommodation. Those applying will be vetted and Ukrainians will undergo security checks. However, as The Mail on Sunday reports today, security chiefs have expressed concern at watering down visa requirements.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has been criticised over the slow rate of approval of visas for Ukrainian refugees, prompting Boris Johnson to demand an end to 'hostile leaks' from within her department.

But many organisations are already stepping up, such as London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is set to receive ten children with cancer after they were whisked out of Ukraine in an extraordinary rescue mission.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Football Club was thrown a lifeline by the Government yesterday as officials agreed it could be sold by its sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich.

And amid calls for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cut fuel duty as the price of oil spirals because of the sanctions, Mr Johnson is set to travel to Saudi Arabia in an attempt to negotiate increased supplies.

Tomorrow the PM will host leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force, a Northern European security coalition, at Chequers.

 

Cabinet split over Michael Gove's plan to seize Russian oligarch mansions to house Ukrainian refugees, as critics brand the idea 'gesture politics more suited to a banana republic' 

By Glen Owen Political Editor for the Mail on Sunday

When Michael Gove launched into some of his typically rousing rhetoric at Cabinet last month, calling passionately for the mansions of Russian oligarchs to be seized and opened up to Ukrainian refugees, Boris Johnson murmured his assent.

But a fortnight later, the Levelling Up Secretary is still fighting to overcome resistance to his idea from the Treasury and Foreign Office, where officials shiver at what one source dismissed as 'banana republic politics'.

For their part, supporters of Mr Gove's plan describe the opponents as 'oligarch apologists'.

The debate flared up again last week at the first meeting of a Cabinet sub-committee on Ukraine, chaired by Downing Street's chief of staff Steve Barclay, which has been tasked with examining 'every facet' of the UK's refugee response. When Mr Gove highlighted the powerful symbolism of his proposed move, Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly and Treasury Minister John Glen voiced their departments' reservations.

Under Mr Gove's plan, British property owned by oligarchs sanctioned because of the war would be taken over by the Government for as long as they remained on the list, allowing Ministers to throw open their doors to refugees.

In the case of Roman Abramovich, Britain's most high-profile oligarch, that would release at least 70 properties, worth around £500 million, The portfolio includes a 15-bedroom mansion at Kensington Palace Gardens with an estimated value of £150 million, and a three-storey penthouse in the Chelsea Waterfront tower, bought for £30 million in 2018. Abramovich had his assets – including Chelsea FC – frozen on Thursday as part of Government sanctions.

Roman Abramovich's portfolio includes a 15-bedroom mansion at Kensington Palace Gardens (pictured) with an estimated value of £150 million, and a three-storey penthouse in the Chelsea Waterfront tower, bought for £30 million in 2018

Roman Abramovich's portfolio includes a 15-bedroom mansion at Kensington Palace Gardens (pictured) with an estimated value of £150 million, and a three-storey penthouse in the Chelsea Waterfront tower, bought for £30 million in 2018

Sutton Place near Guildford, Surrey, England is the former home of billionaire Jean Paul Getty and now owned by a Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov

Sutton Place near Guildford, Surrey, England is the former home of billionaire Jean Paul Getty and now owned by a Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov

Another sanctioned oligarch, aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska, worth £2 billion, owns a £50 million property on Belgrave Square in Central London, via a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and Hamstone House on the exclusive St George's Hill estate near Weybridge, Surrey. The eight-bedroom mansion includes a swimming pool, sauna, gym and extensive gardens.

Mr Gove's plan echoes moves by the US Congress to seize assets from oligarchs whose wealth is linked to Vladimir Putin. Under a bill introduced earlier this month, American authorities would be allowed to go further than Mr Gove's plan by confiscating, rather than just seizing, any property – including luxury villas, yachts, and airplanes – valued more than $5 million with the funds used to benefit the Ukrainian people via military or humanitarian aid.

Supporters of Mr Gove's plan also point the finger at No 10's new head of policy, Andrew Griffith, for trying to block it. Mr Griffith, the Arundel MP, is a former Rothschild banker and chief financial officer for Sky TV, who is understood to have argued that the idea is not 'legally workable'.

Another sanctioned oligarch, aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska, worth £2 billion, owns a £50 million property on Belgrave Square in Central London, via a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and Hamstone House on the exclusive St George¿s Hill estate near Weybridge, Surrey (pictured)

Another sanctioned oligarch, aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska, worth £2 billion, owns a £50 million property on Belgrave Square in Central London, via a company registered in the British Virgin Islands, and Hamstone House on the exclusive St George's Hill estate near Weybridge, Surrey (pictured)

An opponent of the Gove plan said: 'This is gesture politics more suited to a banana republic'.

But a supporter said: 'The opposition is being led by oligarch apologists who hide behind the rule of law. These people have been sanctioned for a reason, and no one who has been placed on the sanctions list has ever come off it. This is the ultimate symbolic payback for Putin's cronies.'

Downing Street declined to comment and a spokesman for Mr Gove said: 'We don't comment on private Cabinet discussions.'

The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL

Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis.

Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine.

For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families – mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly – fleeing from Russia's invading armed forces.

As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support.

All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services.

In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously.

TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE 

Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate 

To add Gift Aid to a donation – even one already made – complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine

Via bank transfer, please use these details:

Account name: Mail Force Charity

Account number: 48867365

Sort code: 60-00-01

TO MAKE A DONATION VIA CHEQUE

Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY

TO MAKE A DONATION FROM THE US

US readers can donate to the appeal via a bank transfer to Associated Newspapers or by sending checks to dailymail.com HQ at 51 Astor Place (9th floor), New York, NY 10003