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Boris Johnson welcomes moves to exclude Russia from Swift banking system
Labour has branded changes to new immigration rules brought in to help Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK as “shameful”, as Boris Johnson pledged further arms support for the country.
The relaxation of immigration rules comes after the government faced intense criticism over failing to relax the visa requirements for Ukrainian nationals earlier this week.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper at first said it was a “welcome first step forward”, but when further guidance was later released by the Home Office on Sunday night was critical that the rules did not apply to “wider family” and branded the changes “shameful”.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson spoke to president Volodymyr Zelensky again on Sunday evening, with Ukraine’s head of the state informing him the next 24 hours are “crucial”.
Delegations from Ukraine and Russia are due to meet on Monday at the border with Belarus “without a precondition”.
It comes after Russia’s president Vladimir Putin made a dramatic announcement of putting the country’s nuclear forces on heightened alert.
Dismissing the threat, Mr Johnson said that it was a “distraction” from the failures of his army to breakthrough in Ukraine.
Recommended Boris Johnson vows to be ‘generous’ with fleeing Ukrainians – but falls short of welcoming all refugees Liz Truss says she ‘absolutely’ supports British people going to fight in Ukraine Ministers ‘urgently’ examining visa rules for Ukrainians fleeing war
Key points Labour criticises ‘shameful’ new visa rules for Ukrainians Johnson pledges more supply of defense weapon to Ukraine Johnson dismisses Putin’s nuclear threat as a ‘distraction’ UK officials drawing ‘hit list’ of oligarchs close to Kremlin British volunteers who travel to fight Russia could violate terror laws but prosecutions unlikely ‘Rip up bureaucracy to provide sanctuary to people fleeing Ukraine’ ‘Immediate family members will be able to join Ukrainians in UK’
Show latest update 1646047298 Volodymyr Zelensky calls for Ukraine to be given immediate EU membership
President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union (EU) to allow Ukraine to be a part of the bloc immediately under a special procedure to defend itself from the Russian invasion of the country that entered its fifth day on Monday.
“We ask the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure,” he said in a video speech.
“Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair. I am sure we deserve it,” Mr Zelensky added.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.
Volodymyr Zelensky calls for Ukraine to be given immediate EU membership ‘Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I’m sure that’s fair’
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 11:21
1646046652 Government set to alter visa rules for Ukrainians - reports
The Government will reportedly make it easier for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict to reach the UK.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to announce further details in the House of Commons this afternoon, as reported by Adam Payne at Politics Home.
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 11:10
1646046324 Ambulance staff experiencing ‘horrific’ abuse and attacks, NHS warns
Ambulance staff are experiencing “horrific” abuse from the public as attacks on workers increased by 23 per cent in the wake of the pandemic.
Assaults against female ambulance staff have risen by 48 per cent in the last five years, according to a new report from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE).
In response to rising attacks, the NHS has launched a #workwithoutfear campaign to prevent abuse of ambulance staff. Last year there were 11,749 attacks against ambulance staff, equating to 32 workers being abused or attacked every day.
AACE said incidents included kicking, slapping, headbutting and verbal abuse, and ranged from common assault to serious attacks involving knives and weapons.
Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas has the details.
Ambulance staff experiencing ‘horrific’ abuse and attacks, NHS warns ‘Being attacked so violently by someone I was trying to help completely changed me’, says one paramedic
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 11:05
1646045424 Matt Hancock says ‘I haven’t had causal sex with anybody’
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Matt Hancock says ‘I haven’t had causal sex with anybody’
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 10:50
1646044832 Face masks scrapped in most indoor places in Wales
People in Wales are no longer legally required to wear face masks in many indoor places, such as cinemas, theatres, community centres, museums and gyms.
But the Welsh Government said the mandate is still active in all retail settings, public transport and in health and care settings, unless a person is exempt.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said the remaining protections are “proportionate to the public health situation and the risk of coronavirus”.
“Thanks to everyone’s hard work and all their sacrifices, cases of coronavirus are falling across Wales. Now is the right time to relax the general requirement to wear a face covering in many indoor public places,” he said.
“But we will keep the legal requirement in place in retail, public transport and health and social care, which are widely used and essential sectors.
“This is part of our cautious and careful response to the pandemic. We will continue to consider the latest scientific and medical evidence to inform our approach.
“Later this week I will be setting our longer term plans to manage the pandemic, as we carry out the regular three-week review of the regulations.”
When schools return from half-term break on Tuesday, decisions about face masks will be made by education bodies on a local basis.
A review of all the remaining alert level zero regulations will next be announced on March 4.
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 10:40
1646044222 A terrible human tragedy is unfolding before our eyes – and the UK government is turning its back
Refugees Welcome: In closing visa applications for those stuck in Ukraine without relatives in Britain, the government has failed those in desperate need of safety, writes Layla Moran.
A human tragedy is unfolding – and the UK government turns its back | Layla Moran Refugees Welcome: In closing visa applications for those stuck in Ukraine without relatives in Britain, the government has failed those in desperate need of safety
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 10:30
1646043626 Matt Hancock: ‘I broke the rules because I fell in love’
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Matt Hancock: ‘I broke the rules because I fell in love’
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 10:20
1646043006 Russia should be ‘fully excluded’ from sporting and cultural events, says Labour MP
Russia should be banned from all international sporting and cultural events, shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell has said.
The Labour MP told Sky News: “We need to send a clear and categoric message that Russia from now on will be fully excluded, fully boycotted from all international sporting and cultural events.”
Sports bodies such as Uefa and “to some degree” Fifa have started to make “moves in the right direction” to stop Russia’s involvement, but a blanket ban is needed “without delay”, she said.
With forthcoming competitions such as the World Cup and the European Women’s Football Championship, “it shouldn’t be a case that Russia can still take part albeit without displaying its country’s name”, she added.
Ms Powell told the programme: “We now need to see a full and clear categoric signal so that (President Vladimir) Putin, who takes these occasions very seriously when he is hosting or participating in these events, he needs to feel the full force of that where it hurts, and it will send a strong signal to the Russian people as well that they need to stand up to Putin because they will no longer be able to take pride in their country taking part in such events.”
She added that Russia is still hosting international volleyball and swimming competitions later this year.
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 10:10
1646042128 Britain ‘on the back foot’ in helping refugees, Labour MP says
Britain is “on the back foot” in helping Ukraine’s refugees and “the Government just needs to step up and support people who are fleeing war and terror,” the chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee has said.
Meg Hiller, the Labour MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, told Sky News: “I think the EU has set the tone here and Britain is on the back foot.
“Britain have done the same with Afghanistan in making it hard for family members to join.
“It needs to understand that family members are one of the easiest groups to get into the country, with support here already embedded.
“People have got homes, jobs and money to support their family members but it could go much further,” Dame Meg added.
“It needs to follow what the EU is doing and we hope, of course, that these refugees will only be temporarily here.
“They want to go back to Ukraine once we hope this conflict is over. In the meantime, the Government just needs to step up and support people who are fleeing war and terror.”
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 09:55
1646041354 Refugees Welcome: UK faith leaders urge government to rethink ‘discriminatory’ borders bill
More than 1,000 faith leaders have urged the government to reconsider its controversial Nationality and Borders Bill, which will criminalise and restrict the rights of all people who arrive in the UK without a visa.
If the bill passes - it is entering its final stages in the House of Lords - people trying to seek asylum in Britain, such as those now fleeing Ukraine, could be treated as second-tier refugees, or even criminals, as they would be arriving via irregular routes.
It comes as UK charities backed The Independent’s Refugees Welcome campaign, calling on the British government to set up an urgent and properly funded resettlement programme for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.
Our senior news correspondent Samuel Lovett has the details.
UK faith leaders urge government to rethink ‘discriminatory’ borders bill Refugees Welcome: Critics say bill will ‘close the door’ to those seeking asylum in the UK, including those fleeing Ukraine
Joe Middleton 28 February 2022 09:42
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