Carla Denyer MP says Home Office ‘refusing to help’ Palestinian students with Bristol places

By Lenny Osler, News Reporter

On October 21 Carla Denyer, former Green Party co-leader said on X:

‘The govt promised it would help all Palestinian students with funded places at British universities to get to the UK - but there are students with places at the University of Bristol who the Home Office is refusing to help. Devastatingly we don't know if they are still alive’

Denyer questioned whether the lack of progress on the evacuation plans is intentional inaction, or failure to deliver policy in time on the part of the Home Office, speaking to the Bristol Tab.

In August, the government announced its plans to evacuate from Gaza nine Masters students on the Chevening Scholarship, and approved plans to assist 30 more students on other, fully funded scholarships to leave Gaza.  

Denyer's post on X is her second on the topic this month. On October 9, she expressed her frustration at the progress of the evacuation plans approved by the Home Office in August:

A key obstacle appears to be the Home Office's requirement of biometric approval for visa applications. There are no visa centres in Gaza to submit fingerprints, and those located in the West Bank are inaccessible since Israel restricts cross-border travel to and from Gaza.

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‘Evelyn Welch... No amount of money will help you to sleep at night’, said one University of Bristol student with a close friend in Gaza.

EpigramCara Hene

The University said in a statement to Epigram, that in supporting these Palestinian students it had adjusted fees, given accommodation support, covered visa application costs, extended the deadline for arrival dates, and kept ‘regular, supportive communication’ with the students.

‘The University has made significant progress in its efforts to support the admission and safe relocation of students from Gaza. Seven have been accepted with full funding secured and we are working with the relevant authorities to assist with their arrival to the UK.’

‘We eagerly await the arrival of our new students and look forward to welcoming them into our academic community.’

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EpigramRachel Shortall

The University of Bristol offers the Sanctuary Scholarship scheme to students from an asylum-seeking or refugee community, which covers a full fee waiver and living cost stipend.

Featured image: Epigram / Ellen Reynolds