Immigration minister Kevin Foster has been criticised after he suggested Ukrainians fleeing war should apply for work visas to come to the UK.

In a now-deleted Twitter post, the Conservative MP said Ukrainians could qualify for the seasonal worker scheme – where people can come to the UK for up to six months to work in jobs such as fruit and vegetable picking – or apply for a family visa if they already have a relative in Britain.

Mr Foster posted his message as part of a row about whether the government is still applying normal visa restrictions to those trying to escape the Russian forces attacking Ukraine.

His deleted tweet was in response to Labour’s shadow armed forces minister Luke Pollard, who told the government that Britain had a “moral duty” to “urgently sort out a simple sanctuary route to the UK for all who need it”.

Yesterday I pressed Ministers on opening safe routes to sanctuary in Britain for those fleeing war in Ukraine. The Immigration Minister replied suggesting visas to pick fruit on British farms. I like Kevin but this was painfully unaware and unkind. We need safe routes open now 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/p0SEm7IECM

Posting a screenshot of Mr Foster’s now-deleted reply, Mr Pollard posted on Twitter: “Yesterday I pressed ministers on opening safe routes to sanctuary in Britain for those fleeing war in Ukraine.

“The immigration minister replied suggesting visas to pick fruit on British farms. I like Kevin but this was painfully unaware and unkind. We need safe routes open now.”

Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said it was “right” that Mr Foster had deleted his tweet, but said she was still waiting for answers from Home Secretary Priti Patel over what was being done to assist Ukrainians.

Ukraine says ‘4,300 Russian troops have been killed or injured’; follow live updates

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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also called for “clarity” from Ms Patel, adding: “Migrant seasonal workers make a valued contribution to our economy – but this is not the route to the UK that we should expect those seeking refuge from war to rely on.”

Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson, also joined the criticism of Mr Foster.

“Ukrainians are queuing for miles to escape Putin’s war machine,” he said. “For the Home Office to tell them to apply for visas as if they are looking for work or going on a gap year is completely wrong.”

As well as deleting his initial tweet, Mr Foster sent a further reply to Mr Pollard to state the seasonal worker scheme was “just one of several routes and we will do more as the PM has made clear”.

Key developments in the Ukraine crisis:

• Putin orders nuclear deterrent forces to be put on high alert
• Zelenskyy: Ukraine and Russia to hold talks at Belarus border
• Ukraine claims control of key city Kharkiv after fierce clashes
• Foreign secretary warns conflict could last ‘years’
• ‘Hit list’ of Russian oligarchs drawn up

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Home Office: ‘Multiple official visa routes’ available

Meanwhile, Ms Patel has hit out at “appalling misinformation” that the Home Office is still applying normal visa restrictions to Ukrainians.

The Home Office has said that temporary visa concessions have been introduced for family members of British nationals who usually live in Ukraine.

The department also said that “multiple official visa routes” are available for Ukrainians who are not dependents of British nationals.

Ukrainians who reach neighbouring countries are advised that they can access UK visa application centres in those other nations.

A visa application centre in Lviv, in western Ukraine, remains open, but the priority of staff is to deal with family of UK nationals in Ukraine, according to the Home Office.

More staff have been sent out to eastern Europe to process visa applications, the department added.

Read more:

• Putin’s pals: Who is in the Russian president’s inner circle?
• Checking the truth in a time of war

"We need a safe sanctuary scheme"

Shadow Foreign Sec @DavidLammy says the UK should introduce a "simplified process" for Ukrainian refugees to claim asylum.
#Phillips: https://t.co/31OokSLksh

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Government ‘looking at more we can do’ to help refugees

The United Nations has estimated that 368,000 people have fled Ukraine following the outbreak of conflict with Russia.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told Sky News that ministers were “looking at what more we can do” to assist fleeing Ukrainians, adding: “We will be saying more about this very shortly.”

Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy called for a “simplified scheme” and told the Trevor Phillips On Sunday show that visa restrictions for those seeking sanctuary in the UK from Ukraine were “totally unacceptable”.

Criticising a “bureaucratic” system with a “lot of red tape”, he added: “It’s insisting that people demonstrate salaries, that they have family ties in this country.

“People are fleeing with their children in their arms. Why would you ask people how rich they are to enter our country?”

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