Scottish Conservative leader to discuss with wife possibly hosting Ukrainian refugees

The leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross has told Kingdom FM that he is to discuss with his wife the possibility of his family hosting Ukrainian refugees.

It follows the launch of the UK Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme, which has had more than 100,000 Britons sign up already.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed that milestone being reached this afternoon on Twitter:

It’s fantastic that over 100,000 people and organisations have recorded their interest in supporting Ukrainians fleeing the war through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Thank you to everyone across the country who has stepped up to offer their help so far. #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/cZWCHyLoZT

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 15, 2022

Before that milestone was reached, the Scottish Refugee Council said that they have been looking at ways and means of making sure that sponsors don't have to do everything and insisted that it's important that all Ukrainians are supported.

The organisation also said that it intends to look at how Ukrainian refugees can be supported to register with a GP, get access to the welfare system and have all of the entitlements and rights that they have as a refugee in Scotland.

Meanwhile, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed at Holyrood this afternoon that the UK Government has "indicated support" for the Scottish Government's proposals "in principle" to make Scotland a "super sponsor" to support Ukrainian refugees.

She has hailed it as a "positive development".

It means that as a start, that will allow for 3,000 Ukrainians to be welcomed north of the border very soon.

Ms Sturgeon will provide a further update in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.

Back in Fife earlier today, Mr Ross was on a tour of Babcock International in Rosyth to see construction work being carried out on the Type 31 Royal Navy frigates.

Anas Hassan, our reporter, had a chat with him there at lunchtime after his tour, before the latest figure on the Homes for Ukrainians scheme was released this afternoon:

Image from UK Parliament released under Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Licence