Former CFI chair brought in by PM to deal with growing Ukraine refugee crisis

Richard Harrington, the Jewish former MP for Watford, has been appointed as the Minister for Refugees, Downing Street confirmed on Wednesday.

The former Conservative Friends of Israel chair, who stood down as a MP at the 2019 general election, will also be made a life peer sitting in the House of Lords.

His appointment is being seen as an attempt by the Prime Minister to deal with the growing refugee crisis after a succession of Conservative MPs condemned the Home Office for failing Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Harrington, 63, previously had experience as a minister for Syrian refugees.

In a statement, Number 10 said: “The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Richard Harrington as a Minister of State (Minister for Refugees) jointly in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Home Office.

“Her Majesty has also been pleased to signify Her intention of conferring a peerage of the United Kingdom for Life on Richard Harrington.

“The Prime Minister would like to thank Victoria Atkins MP for her work as Minister for Afghan Resettlement. She remains as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice.”

Harrington’s appointment came as Jewish charities joined Save The Children, the Refugee Council and other organisations in criticising the government’s “chaotic, heartless and unkind” polices over Ukrainian refugees.

Dame Margaret Hodge, the Labour MP, this week told Jewish News the response to the request by thousands of Ukrainians to be given visas to come to the UK and escape Russia’s bombardment had been “pathetic.”

Born into a Jewish working class family in Leeds, Harrington first became Watford’s MP in 2010 and went on to serve as a Government minister.

But in March 2019, he resigned from the government to vote for Oliver Letwin’s amendment after warning about the risks of a no-deal Brexit.

He lost the Conservative whip as a result of his Brexit warning.

Harrington had previously served as a treasurer of the Conservative Party from 2008 until his election two years later.

Before serving as a minister, he served as a Minister in the Department for Work and Pensions, and before that, in the Home Office.