Thread by @DanielJHannan

A very moving 5 days in Poland, working with Conservative MPs and peers to build a playground for Ukrainian orphans who have been forced to move to Poland. The unfussy professionalism with which Poles have responded to the refugee crisis is humbling. (1)

Several politicians gave up a chunk of their recess to lend a hand. Thanks to @Tom_Randall @ASollowayUK @HodgsonFiona @jamesowild @NatalieElphicke and @BrooksNewmark, as well as to Andrew Bingham , Zak Khan & Natalie Evans. And thanks to @NaweedKhan for organising it all. (2)

Thanks, too, to our honorary British Tory, @GudlaugurThor, who is currently Iceland's environment minister, is one of my oldest friends in politics, and has been an unflagging friend to the UK throughout his career. (3)

And what a pleasure to be joined by that most sweet-natured of men, two times world boxing champ @amirkingkhan, whose charity helped pay for the equipment. He is pictured here on the right starting his second career as a personal trainer. (4)

Thanks, too, to my old friend @AnnaFotyga_PE for hosting us in Gdinya, where we saw British-designed warships being built for the Polish navy in a joint venture.

Finally, a great honour to lay a wreath on the anniversary of the Katyn massacre and the #Smolensk disaster, and to attend a commemorative Mass with the President, the Archbishop and families of the victims. (6)

Poles have risen heroically to the occasion. Mobile phone companies are giving away data, hotels and Airbnbs are offered free, newspapers are printing Ukrainian-language editions, schools are expanding. And Brussels chooses this moment to fine Poland! (7) olsztyn.tvp.pl/59533304/europ…

I should also thank Charlotte from @Women2Win, as well as my former European Parliament colleagues Rocío and Themi. (8)

Dziękuję Polsko!
Слава Україні
🇵🇱🇺🇦🇬🇧
(9) (ends)