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Caerphilly’s Ukrainian community have been defended in parliament following attacks on the Nation of Sanctuary scheme during the recent Senedd by-election.

The Nation of Sanctuary scheme has cost the Welsh Government £55m since it was introduced in 2019, with around 85% of that money going towards supporting Ukrainian refugees who have resettled in Wales following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of their country.

During the by-election campaign, in which Plaid Cymru came out victorious, the policy became a major talking point. It came under attack from both Reform UK and the Welsh Conservatives, but passionately defended by Plaid, Labour, the Greens, and the Lib Dems.

Speaking in the UK Parliament on Wednesday October 29, Caerphilly’s Labour MP Chris Evans showed his support for the area’s Ukrainian community.

It came after he visited an exhibition by Ukrainian poet and artist Olesia Miftahova at Caerphilly County Borough Council’s headquarters on Monday October 27.

The solo exhibition, titled A Welsh Afternoon, came to a close this week having been on display at Ty Penallta since September.

“If there was one downside to the by-election, it was the talk of asylum seekers being bad people – that they are all illegal and that they do not contribute anything,” said Mr Evans in the House of Commons. “Those who said such things should see the exhibition that was on at Caerphilly Council and see what asylum seekers have contributed.”

Posing a question to Wales Office minister Anna McMorrin, Mr Evans asked: “What message does the minister have for those Ukrainians who are still seeking asylum in Wales?”

In response, Ms McMorrin said: “We offer sanctuary for those who desperately need it, and we are proud of that, but we inherited contracts and a broken system from the Conservatives.

“Hotel use has nearly halved since the last election, and we have removed 30,000 people who have no right to be here, ensuring that those who do need to be here have the welcome and support that they need.

“It is not job done, but work in progress. We can compare that with the 14 years of the Tory Government.”

“Warm welcome”

Speaking after visiting the art exhibition earlier this week, Mr Evans said: “The warm welcome the people of Caerphilly have given to the Ukrainian refugees in our communities has been a light in the darkness, in what has otherwise been an horrific situation in Europe.

“The message our communities have given is simple. We stand with the people of Ukraine against aggression, and we are honoured to have been able to provide them a home when they needed it most.”

He continued: “I want to pay tribute to the work of Olesia Miftahova and so many others in Caerphilly’s Ukrainian community for embracing our culture and sharing theirs with us. I am delighted to have two of her artworks for my London office.”

“A real warrior”

Speaking in parliament, Mr Evans also paid tribute to the late Hefin David, who served Caerphilly in the Senedd for nine years before his passing in August, aged just 47.

His death triggered the recent by-election in the constituency, in which Plaid Cymru defeated Reform UK, with Labour were condemned to third place.

Mr Evans described Hefin as a “friend and colleague” and continued: “He was an amazing representative for Wales and a real warrior for those who are neurodivergent or find themselves on the margins of society.”