Will you sign up to the new refugee sponsorship scheme?

[JoyousOpalLemur]

The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is apparently announcing next week a new refugee sponsorship scheme.

It would allow households to privately sponsor refugees from conflict zones.

Applications open this autumn, with the aim of resettling more than 10,000 people.

It’s modelled on Canada’s scheme and the Homes for Ukraine programme.

Sponsors would commit to providing financial, emotional and practical support.

What do people think? I just can't help thinking that with the current pressures on housing, schools, GPs and local services, how this will actually work in practice? Has anyone been involved in the Ukraine sponsorship scheme and can share what it was really like day-to-day?

Curious to hear everyone’s views.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/home-secretary-announce-scheme-refugees-uk-lgdr8ff25

Yes, we don't need to import people from very different cultures to do the work we need to be done here. We have over a million young people not in education, employment or training.

I listened to an interesting podcast cast that considered what will happen when the war in Ukraine ends.

There will be hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers disbanded. Many foreign mercenaries. All traumatised. Russia will have no intention of supporting them. It will dispell them all into Europe. We can see the EU tightening the rules for asylum and handling claims.

We need to think about this before it happens.

Australia still takes refugees. The asylum seekers it processes off-shore cost £260,000 a year each. Its ability to process off-shore is facilitated by the enormous disparity in power between Australia and neighbouring states that are poor enough to accept the arrangement but relatively isolated and stable. There's no guarantee that the UK finds such clients, even at such gross expense.

We have withdrawn from international treaties and have seen the number of asylum seekers sky-rocket since. Withdrawing from treaties may help to control the number of refugees, though other nations and trading blocks can of course choose the terms on which they to do business or extend diplomacy to nations placing themselves outside their human rights obligations. Withdrawing from treaties will not prevent people from arriving in Britain via people-smugglers, which is what the small boats discourse is about.

So no, and no. I've not brought my thoughts on ethics into this thread, but from a purely pragmatic point of view, these solutions aren't likely to work for Britain.

If it’s a no and no then none of your other suggestions will limit men arriving under international law.

It doesn’t matter if we take 10k refugees they still have the right to enter and apply.

So who is to house them? You want them housed, just not by you. It's always the same excuses. Oh my house is so very unfortunately too small or I absolutely would house them... Oh I have (insert random family member here) who visit so I can't give up my spare bedroom, but I really, really wish I could. I welcome all refugees, but I have terrible anxiety, so not in my house. Oh I really wish I could open up my home to these people who are in such desperate need, but unfortunately I use my spare bedroom for my absolutely-shit-that-nobody-wants-to-buy crafting business. Such a shame, I would really love to take in a nice refugee family. Except it won't be a nice refugee family will it? It'll be undocumented males, coming from who knows where, and that's why you don't want them in your spare room, or on your futon 🙄

Why would this being a no and a no mean that other measures to reduce small boats wouldn't work? (They do seem to be working to some extend already, though it's early days. But they rely on international cooperation).

Not really. We don’t go to other countries to get help and freeload. So no irony whatsoever. I moved to Singapore for 4 years best thing ever, did I freeload? No! Did I have to pass checks and get visa’s? Yes! So don’t give it mate!

Well you’ve got riot gear on French beaches, one in one out, smash the gangs and a whole range of stuff and it’s at 1000 this week.

So that number plus the refugee programme adds up to more, not fewer.

Who is to house them? People who volunteer to do so.

Most people don't want to, some won't be in a position to, and some will. Some already do. Similar schemes already exist - see Refugees at Home. But there's no government scheme for institutional sponsorship, and existing schemes aren't aligned with the refugees' arrival in the country.

I'd imagine the French weren't hanging around in riot gear to help Britain out during last week's heatwave - worse there than here. 1000 a week would bring numbers down on last year. Let's hope the two nations' collaboration succeeds in bringing them down further, along with the other measures that may be contributing to the decline.

Sounds encouraging since people arrive when it’s hotter.

Another thing I don’t quite get is where the requirement to speak English to a certain level and pass the ‘Life in the UK test’ fits in with the various routes to citizenship? Or is this for spouses?

Yes the virtue signallers make me vomit!

Where would you go?
And would they have you?
Serious questions

So why did OP say that?

Not in your house and preferably not near your house hey?

Imagine being a child, with a creepy bloke in your home!!!!

I might consider it I am a bit of a looney leftie.

😂

I'd say anyone that will agree to take a man and has children in the house should have social services involvement for a severe lack of judgement and safeguarding.

After the first few people murdered or raped by their refugee hit the press the scheme will be pulled.

I wish people would just admit it and stop this absolute nonsense. No you wouldnt house one, because why would you want you? A random man from countries where they treat women like absolute shit. Why do we think these countries are the way they are, because of the men. Do you seriously think its just all the nice men are fleeing. Would you want to house a white English homeless man, no and so you shouldn't have to do that either. Its not safe.

And there's people virtue signalling saying they should be allowed to flee from their country and come here, but 'no no no, not in my house.i havent possibly got the room' or ' im an introvert, I wouldnt like anyone staying' or 'my husband said no'

Well I tell you what, we who live near these places where they are currently housed and have been affected by the crime, DONT WANT ANY OF THEM COMING.

I think people deserve more dignity and respect than expecting them to sleep on my sofa. If someone needed a bed for the night they’d be welcome to it whilst something more suitable was found.

I can tell you that having been involved in assessing hosts previously, this would not be an acceptable solution.

You know that though don’t you but think you’re somehow catching me out. Poor try. 🙄

The majority of the public have said they are not comfortable with the risks and don't want these people coming ...but the government takes no notice.

Do the people sponsoring house them?