As Expert Online notes, the United Kingdom has perhaps some of the strictest laws regarding migrants. However, the ruling Conservatives are not satisfied with this and are tightening the screws even further. Among the latest measures complicating the situation of mixed families where one spouse is a foreigner is the increase in income levels that open the door to the foggy Albion for citizens of other countries.
Critics of yet another dubious innovation by the British government warn of a rise in the number of so-called "Skype children." Currently, there are about 15,000 children in the islands who, thanks to Her Majesty's government, are separated from one parent and know them only through Skype.
The implementation of the decree to increase the income threshold, which currently stands at £18,600 ($24,000) per year, will fall to the next government. It will come to power after the elections on June 8. Theresa May, who introduced the current income level when she was still Home Secretary, certainly hopes to remain at the head of the cabinet. The Conservatives are considered favorites in the snap parliamentary elections.
Foreign students will also suffer from the Conservatives. For them, the fighters against migration in the British Isles have decided to tighten entry requirements. This is explained by the desire to maintain high educational standards in the kingdom. Those who do not meet the new requirements will have to return home after receiving their diploma.
Of course, the latest manifestation of the Tories' anti-migrant policy has many opponents. These include, by the way, even members of the Supreme Court, who called the increase in minimum income a "particularly crude" measure. For critics, it is clear that the new measure will help the Conservatives achieve their goal of sharply reducing the number of migrants in the kingdom to several tens of thousands. Two years ago, statisticians calculated that with the current threshold of £18,600, about 41% of working Britons are unable to bring their spouses to live together in the UK. For women, this figure is naturally even higher – 55%.
Interestingly, the new income limit for entry into the UK has not yet been set. The current limit rises to £22,400 if the family has at least one child born in another country. To this should be added that when calculating income levels, only the income of the spouse who holds British citizenship is taken into account.
Opponents of financial restrictions on cohabitation of Britons and foreigners have already gone to court demanding that the income threshold be declared illegal. However, in February, the Supreme Court refused to grant the claim, although it noted that thousands of married couples suffer from such artificial obstacles.
Labour promises to abolish the property threshold if they win the elections. They believe it is wrong to protect family values only for the rich.