It was a real privilege to be at the vigil for Ukraine in Lewes on Saturday 5th March along with hundreds of you, listening to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Like all the speakers, he made a heartfelt plea to open our borders to the desperate people fleeing the warzone. We must stand ready to welcome those in need and extend humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the coming months and years.

As deputy leader of Lewes District Council, I am pleased to report that the leader of Lewes District Council, my council colleagues, and I have already said that we will welcome refugees from Ukraine to our area. It is time that the government steps up and welcomes them too.

Lewes Liberal Democrats are calling for: 

• Waiving the need for visas for those fleeing the war zone today.
• A fast, ambitious resettlement scheme for Ukrainian refugees to come safely to the UK.
• Scrapping of the law that criminalises Ukrainian refugees coming here to claim asylum. 
• A five-year funding package for every person a local council resettles.

Please add your name to my petition calling on Priti Patel to take immediate action to improve our government's woeful response.

Thank you,

James MacCleary

Parliamentary Spokesperson

Lewes Liberal Democrats