BORIS Johnson today vowed to throw open Britain’s doors to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
The PM said he’ll open a new route for desperate people fleeing Vladimir Putin’s invasion “in the next few days”.
The announcement at PMQs comes after the Government faced intense criticism over its miserly visa scheme.
Boris said so far around 1,000 Ukrainians have been granted sanctuary here and he that number to “rise very sharply”.
He told the Commons: “Everybody sympathises with the plight of refugees.
“This Government wants to do everything we can to welcome them and that is what we are doing.
“The numbers are almost a thousand as I speak today and they will rise very sharply, they are uncapped.
“We expect those numbers to rise to in the region of the hundreds of thousands.”
He added: “As Vladimir Putin doubles down in his attacks we’ll go further, and there will be routes via which the whole country can offer a welcome to vulnerable people fleeing from Ukraine.”
The PM said the new plan will be set out by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, not embattled Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Boris also defended the Government’s stance on migration and said the UK has “an unparalleled record”.
He told MPs: “We’ve done more to resettle vulnerable people than any other European country since 2015.
“We understand how much refugees have to give to this country and we understand how much this country has to gain from refugees.”
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It comes after days of controversy over Britain’s failure to take in more Ukrainian refugees.
More than two million people have fled to neighbouring countries with most going to Poland, Hungary, and Romania.
So far only 1,000 of those escaping the conflict have been granted safety in the UK.
Ministers insist that number is set to increase rapidly and that they’re committed to speeding up ID checks.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps justified red tape warning the Kremlin could exploit an open door policy to send agents to Britain.
But Home Secretary Priti Patel is under intense fire after many Ukrainians seeking refuge were stranded at Calais.
A traumatised Ukrainian teenager trapped in the port town last night begged Boris Johnson to cut red tape so she can find safety in Britain.
Gabriela Raminishvili, 17, escaped terrifying bombardment in Kyiv only to be stranded in France for six days.
Home Office visa chaos has prevented her and mum Maria, 45, from coming to live with her father Misha in Hornchurch, East London.
They and 600 other refugees will have to travel 70 miles to Lille to finalise the visa.
In a handwritten note to Mr Johnson, Gabriela, 17, pleaded: “Dear Prime Minister, please help me and my family and the people of Ukraine.
“We have escaped the bombing. Ukraine is under attack. Vladimir Putin is killing innocent people.
“I am lucky I have reached Calais but am not allowed into the UK. Please be kind and give the Ukrainian refugees a place of safety. Thank you.”
Scaffolder Misha, 48, has gone to Calais but has been told it will take another week to get a visa.
The British citizen said: “Who else is going to help me if not my own Government?”
The UK army has been drafted in to help with visa applications as Tory MPs told Mrs Patel to “get a grip”.
Mr Shapps insisted the UK didn’t want to set up a visa processing centre in Calais because Ukrainians could fall into the hands of criminal people smugglers operating out of the port.
