Gove’s ‘Britain at its best’ message for those hosting Ukrainians branded ‘hollow’

House secretary’s message comes amid debate on moves to stop asylum seekers who cross the Channel

Kitty Hamilton, co-founder of the advocacy group Vigil for Visas, says the Illegal Migration Bill ‘stands in complete contradiction with what the Homes for Ukraine Scheme is about’ (PA Wire)

People who have hosted Ukrainian refugees in the year since a special visa scheme launched have been praised by housing secretary Michael Gove as a “wonderful example of British generosity”.

In a video to mark a year since the announcement of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Mr Gove encouraged more people to get involved in “showing Britain at its best”.

But the messaging has been described as “ironic”, coming amid the debate on the government’s plans to detain and deport migrants who arrive in the UK having crossed the Channel in small boats and ban them for life from returning to Britain.