‘Barking mad!’ Labour MP faces fury after pushing for Ukraine-style Gaza visa scheme

A Labour MP has faced a furious response from the public after she pushed for a Ukraine-style Gaza family visa scheme online earlier today.

Rachael Maskell – MP for York Central – has urged people to contact their MP to sign an Early Day Motion to the House of Commons which, if passed, would establish a visa scheme for people in Gaza.

Responding to the motion, Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: “We do not want people who have been brainwashed by Hamas to come to the UK.”

“We do not want to import antisemitism and religious intolerance. The answer is no, no, no!”

Another user blasted the proposal as “barking mad”.

Meanwhile, another individual launched an attack on the MP, claiming that the Labour Party has “threatened” businesses, farms and hospitality with “crippling taxes” – even scrapping the winter fuel allowance from the elderly.

They said: “All necessary ‘difficult decisions’ you said due to the ‘black hole’.

“Well, here’s an easy decision for you. If you can’t afford to look after the people who are already here and pay your wages, you are in no position to invite more!”

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By this morning, the motion had received 24 signatures from MPs, including those from Labour, Social Democratic and Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Alliance Party, in addition to four independents.

The Early Day Motion, tabled on November 5, has called upon the Government “to introduce a Gaza Family Visa Scheme, based upon the Ukraine Family Scheme, to enable Palestinians from Gaza to reunite with their family members and seek temporary sanctuary in the UK until it is safe to return.”

In its text, the document has highlighted the loss of over 40,000 individuals, in addition to the increasing toll of injured individuals, as well as those “exposes to infectious disease and famine”.

Additionally, the destruction of health infrastructure in Gaza has hindered civilians’ ability to access vital medical care.

There has been growing calls to implement the scheme amid concern about the impact of Israel’s counter-offensive following Hamas’ October 7 attack last year.

The Ukraine Family Scheme was first launched in March 2022, several weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February.

Following its implementation, the scheme allowed those in the UK to sponsor a named Ukrainian national or family to live in the country with them, as long as they have sufficient accommodation.

According to the Office for National Statistics, approximately 210,000 people had arrived in the UK under the Ukraine Family and Sponsorship Scheme by July 16 this year.