Britain's DIY-asylum for Ukrainian refugees has potential…and perils

Photo by Jasmine Yu on Unsplash

It was Keir Starmer’s Labour Party that called out the British government’s efforts on Ukrainian refugees for what they are: “ a ‘do-it-yourself’ asylum plan “.

Quite so.

When the British public assailed the meanness displayed by Boris Johnson’s Conservatives towards Ukrainians fleeing their country, the government decided to take the people at their word. Mr Johnson’s government effectively outsourced refugee care to the British public. In exchange for a monthly stipend of £350 paid out by the government, ordinary British households could sign up to house and feed a Ukrainian refugee (individual or family) for six months.

Pleased to have the chance to show their generosity and goodwill, the British public responded mightily. Within five hours of the March 14 launch of the Home for Ukraine website, nearly 44,000 potential sponsors had registered their interest.

It led British thinktanks that focus on issues of immigration to suggest that potential sponsors o…