After a nerve-wracking campaign to secure the right emergency travel documents for their baby, born to a surrogate mother in Ukraine, a family is now set to come home.
Despite UK government calls for all British nationals to leave the region due to an imminent Russian invasion, Ben Garratt and Alice Wood faced being kept in Kiev as a result of delays to getting hold of documents for baby Raphael.
The family’s plight prompted a campaign back home, with communal figures and politicians calling on the UK government to speed up the process.
As a result of the support, the couple – who both formerly worked for Labour Friends of Israel - confirmed that they would be returning to the UK on Monday.
Mr Garratt, who is Jewish, thanked people for their support. He tweeted: “Thank you all for your support! We are stressed but hopeful.”
Thank you so much @TulipSiddiq and everyone!! https://t.co/BAe7ykQcRQ
— Ben Garratt (@ben_garratt) February 14, 2022
He later thanked his local Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who was in contact with the couple from Queen’s Park in north London.
Thank you all so much for your concern and supportive messages about my constituents in Ukraine.
— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) February 13, 2022
I’m very pleased to say that Ben and Alice have acquired their emergency travel documents and should be flying home tomorrow. Thanks to those at @FCDOGovUK who helped.
She said: “Thank you all so much for your concern and supportive messages about my constituents in Ukraine.
“I’m very pleased to say that Ben and Alice have acquired their emergency travel documents.”
She added: “Thanks to those at [the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office] who helped.”
The news was welcomed across the community, with Michael Rubin, director of Labour Friends of Israel, telling the JC: “The situation Ben and Alice have found themselves in through no fault of their own is extremely distressing.
“As two former members of the LFI team, we wish Ben and Alice the very best and call on the UK Government to do everything it can to get the documentation needed to allow their family to come home from Ukraine.”
A spokesperson for the FCDO said: “We are doing everything we can to support all British families with surrogacy arrangements in Ukraine at this time.
“HMPO are prioritising passport applications to support British families leaving Ukraine as quickly as possible.
“We are encouraging British nationals with surrogacy arrangements in Ukraine to contact the FCDO on 01908 51 6666 if they haven’t already.”
