On today’s Good Morning Britain Susanna was live from the Polish border.
The former BBC Breakfast host spoke with Frozen singing sensation Amelia, plus Home Office minister Chris Philp.
Susanna Reid reported throughout today’s show at the border of Poland and Ukraine in Medkya, highlighting the frustrating crisis in processing visas and the problems faced by those who have fled the country.
Susanna visited a refugee reception centre run by local firefighters, where displaced people can sleep for two nights maximum before they must move on. She also discovered the UK has been processing parent visas but not those of their children, with many waiting weeks (and over a month) for their visas to be processed.
She took former Home Office minister Chris Philp to task over the failure of the UK government to process visas for parents and children concurrently, urging: “As a former Home Office minister, can you speak to your colleagues in the home office and do exactly what you just said – ‘Children’s visas should be approved at the same time as their parents.'”
Following Susanna’s plea, he promised to “speak directly” to his colleagues about improving the process.
Philp said, “Since you’ve raised this, obviously you’re on the ground at the border, you’ve raised this issue – i will pick up the phone to my former Home Office colleagues once we’re done in this interview. I’ll raise that with them straight after this interview.”
Susanna also spoke to singing sensation and Ukrainian symbol of hope Amelia Anisovych and her mother Lilia about their experiences of the current situation, and how they have found hope in singing.
Amelia went viral singing ‘Let It Go’ from Frozen in a Kyiv bunker last month, with her singing shared around the world as a symbol of hope.
Susanna asked her mother if Amelia had become stronger in character in the past few months. She said, “Yes, she has become stronger. Not just because of leaving her town, but so many changes and challenges at the same time.”
She talked about her newfound fame and fans – “I love it. I’ve got used to it!” – eating sandwiches with her grandmother on the train out of Kyiv, and her newfound strength. With an appearance on The Voice Kids in Poland, Amelia explained: “When I’m on stage, all my fears disappear.”
Susanna asked Lilia if she was considering a return to Kyiv, she replied, “The danger isn’t over”.
Good Morning Britain weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITV Hub
