Rishi Sunak’s decision to allow Russian students to sign up for a UK-based masters degree aimed at “emerging leaders” can only possibly benefit “apparatchiks of Putin’s regime”, senior Tory MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Meanwhile former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded the decision “hopeless”, asking: “Why are we doing this?”
The UK had initially barred Russians from submitting applications for the Chevening scholarship programme in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022.
However, the Foreign Office has now lifted this restriction, meaning Russian students are free to submit applications once again – despite Putin’s ongoing war, and his combative rhetoric against the West, including Britain.
The scheme allows overseas students to be brought to British universities, with the costs of flights, accommodation and tuition fees all included – provided they return to their home countries once they graduate.
Established in 1983 as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Awards Scheme, it was renamed in 1994 after Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent, which is the incumbent foreign secretary’s grace and favour home.
Participating students receive a stipend thought to be worth around £18,500 as well as full tuition, with an average degree usually costing overseas graduates £17,109.
Adding in the cost of flights, the cost could amount to £35,000 per year per student, although the Foreign Office has refused to disclose the amount involved or how many students will be funded this year.
Commenting on the investigation by The Independent, Sir Jacob said the Government should “clearly continue the suspension of this scheme”.
He warned: “It will only possibly benefit apparatchiks of Putin’s regime.
“If this money is available, it ought to be spent helping Russian families living in exile to avoid Putin’s murderous regime.”
Commenting on what he called the “hopeless” decision, Sir Iain asked: “Why are we doing this at this time?
“After Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine that has cost so many lives and destroyed so many towns and cities. Why would we want to do this?”
Tobias Ellwood, former chairman of Parliament’s Defence Committee, said: “Given Russian sports athletes are banned from international competitions and cannot compete under the Russian flag, spending a penny on supporting Russian students is absurd.
“We can and must suspend support of Russians if they are returning to Putin.”
However, Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns insisted reopening the scheme to Russian applicants was “the right thing to do”.
She explained: “Enabling Russian students, the brightest and best, to see that Putin’s ‘truths’ are anything but, and to experience a society that is open and free, is the right thing to do.”
An FDCO spokesman said: “Our argument is with Putin’s regime and his illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“It is not with the Russian people, many of whom are increasingly suffering the consequences of this invasion.”
An FDCO insider claimed those returning to Russia would take back “experience of our values and society compared to theirs” and that Chevening alumni “can make a big difference diplomatically”.
They added: “Clearly Russia is in a different place right now, but we have never made our absolute commitment to help Ukraine in its self defence against Putin’s illegal and brutal invasion an attack or repulsion of the Russian people.”
