UK's family visa changes branded 'incredibly stupid' as MPs demand answers

The new minimum salary requirement of £29,000 has been ‘plucked out of thin air’, MPs argue
Miriam Burrell23 April 2024
WEST END FINAL

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MPs branded the Home Office family visa changes as “incredibly stupid”, “pathetic” and “cruel and foolish” in a Westminster Hall debate on Tuesday. 

They demanded the Government justify why the minimum income requirement was increased from £18,600 to £29,000 on April 11, with a final increase to £38,700 in early 2025. 

SNP MP for Glasgow Central Alison Thewliss asked whether the new salary requirements had been “plucked out of thin air” by the Home Office.

Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield, who called the debate, said “the foolishness of this is enormous”. 

“Either this is going to fail to drive down net migration…or it will work and that will be even worse,” he said.

A newly qualified nurse, teacher, or a starting police officer would all fail to reach the £38,700 threshold, Mr Blomfield said. 

The new salary requirements will “discriminate” against women who on average earn less, people living in lower earning areas of the UK, the self-employed, young people and people in the early stage of their career, Mr Blomfield said.

The policy changes were described as “incredibly stupid”, “pathetic”, “fundamentally not conservatism” by MPs. 

Mr Blomfield urged the Government to “drop this policy now” and develop alternatives.

Other MPs called for more evidence to be provided by the Home Office to justify the salary increase, claiming consultation with the migration advisory committee group was not taken before the legislation was introduced. 

Labour MP Stephen Kinnock said if elected, Labour would “review this policy” and “reconsider” the minimum income requirement. 

He said previous analysis of the salary requirement has “given too much weight to fiscal contribution” over costs faced by migrant families. 

The debate heard from several MPs whose constituents are forced to remain abroad due to the new salary threshold, the increased visa fees and immigration health surcharge, which increased by 66 per cent last year

Ms Thewliss argued that family visa holders “cannot be a burden on the state” because they cannot legally claim public funds - and saying otherwise is “a complete untruth”.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron added: "The people of my town have been robbed of the possibility of returning to their own country and town with their family.”

In response to the debate, Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove said the family visa minimum salary requirement had soared to match the salary requirements of someone coming to the UK on a skilled worker visa. 

A rise in the minimum salary needed for those arriving on a skilled worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, kicked in from April 4.

Mr Pursglove told MPs that the family visa salary requirement ensures migration policies target “high wage, high productivity” workers.

“Net migration is too high and we must get into a more sustainable place,” he said, adding that the family visa changes were being introduced retrospectively and incrementally. 

“The reality is net migration is too high, this Government has to bring numbers down by 300,000. 

“I believe we do have the responsibility to reduce numbers and our plan is designed to achieve that.” 

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