Break the government’s blockade of refugees!

Given the Tories’ chest-beating about the Ukraine conflict, you’d think they’d have made an exception to their general hostility to migrants.

So far they are standing firm for their inhuman principles.

The government claims the number of visas issued to Ukrainians since the war began is now up from 50 — the number that caused outrage — to… 300.

This in the context of 1.7 million having fled Ukraine. Poland, with a population not that much more than half the UK’s, has already taken over a million people. Of course Poland is much nearer to Ukraine. Equally, the Tories are outflanking the far-right Law and Justice government on the right.

The result of this is a “visa blockade” at Calais, where the number of Ukrainians who want to come to the UK but can’t is growing steadily.

The labour movement should demand waiving of visas and free entry for Ukrainians and everyone fleeing conflicts.

Meanwhile, on 2 March the House of Lords passed big amendments to take the sting out of the Tories’ regressive Nationality and Borders Bill. We need to mobilise to deter the Tories from using their majority in the Commons to roll back those amendments.

• Protest at the Home Office to admit Ukrainian and other refugees — 5pm, Tuesday 15 March, 2 Marsham St, London SW1P 4DF. Called by Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, Labour Campaign for Free Movement, Another Europe is Possible.