Lowering UK family visa income bar may raise net migration; says advisory panel
A threshold of £23,000 to £25,000 would help families remain self-sufficient without exceeding the minimum wage.
Live Events
The UK's Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended that the government lower the minimum income required for a British citizen or settled resident to sponsor a partner's visa. The committee said that a threshold between £23,000 and £25,000 could support families without forcing them to live apart, but it also warned that such a move could slightly raise net migration, according to a report by The Guardian As of April 2024, the income requirement for sponsoring a foreign partner was raised to £29,000. The MAC's new report suggests the increase to £38,700—planned by the previous Conservative government—should be dropped. It found the policy would likely conflict with international law, especially Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life.The committee offered several options:(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)If the threshold drops to £24,000, the report estimates that net migration could rise by 1% to 3% in future years.As per the Guardian report, committee chair Professor Brian Bell said, 'While the decision on where to set the threshold is ultimately a political one, we have provided evidence on the impacts of financial requirements on families and economic wellbeing.'The MAC also advised that the threshold should not be higher for families with children, despite their higher living costs, due to the severe impact separation has on children. It recommended maintaining the same threshold across all regions of the UK.Campaigners reacted with mixed feelings. Caroline Coombs, co-founder of Reunite Families UK, said: 'Any threshold even at minimum wage would still separate many groups of people who just want to be a family here in the UK.'She added: 'We are calling on the home secretary to have the political courage to change a system … destroying the lives of British and settled residents and their children for over a decade.'The Home Office confirmed it is reviewing the MAC's findings. A spokesperson said, 'The home secretary commissioned the independent migration advisory committee to undertake a review. We are now considering its findings and will respond in due course.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
US, Europe create military options on Ukraine, intend to present to national security advisers next
By Idrees Ali US, Europe create military options on Ukraine, intend to present to national security advisers next -Military chiefs from the United States and a number of European countries have completed military options on Ukraine and will now present the options to their respective national security advisers, the U.S. military said on Thursday. Reuters has previously reported that U.S. and European military planners have begun exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, following President Donald Trump's pledge to help protect the country under any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. "These options will be presented to each nation's respective national security advisers for appropriate consideration in ongoing diplomatic efforts," a U.S. military statement said. The meetings between the chiefs of defense for the United States, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Ukraine took place in Washington, D.C., between Tuesday and Thursday. Reuters was first to report on the completion of the plans that will be presented to the national security advisers. Ukraine and its European allies have been buoyed by Trump's promise during a summit on Monday of security guarantees for Kyiv, but many questions remain unanswered. Officials have cautioned that it would take time for U.S. and European planners to determine what would be both militarily feasible and acceptable to the Kremlin. One option was sending European forces to Ukraine but putting the United States in charge of their command and control, sources have told Reuters. Russia's Foreign Ministry has ruled out the deployment of troops from NATO countries to help secure a peace deal. Trump has publicly ruled out deploying U.S. troops in Ukraine but on Tuesday appeared to leave the door open to other U.S. military involvement. U.S. air support could come in a variety of ways, including providing more air defense systems to Ukraine and enforcing a no-fly zone with U.S. fighter jets. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have both spoken in favour of troop deployments in a post-war settlement as part of a coalition of the willing, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also signaling openness to his country's participation The head of Germany's soldiers' union said on Thursday that European NATO leaders must not be naive when discussing a Ukraine peace force but face up to the reality that they would need to deploy tens of thousands of troops to the country for the long term. Trump has pressed for a quick end to Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, and Kyiv and its allies have worried he could seek to force an agreement on Russia's terms after the president last week rolled out the red carpet for Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Russia says it is engaged in a 'special military operation' in Ukraine to protect its national security, claiming NATO's eastward expansion and Western military support for Ukraine pose existential threats. Kyiv and its Western allies say the invasion is an imperial-style land grab. Despite Trump's push to end the war, Russia attacked a gas compressor station in eastern Ukraine that is important for getting gas into storage facilities for the winter heating season. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Hindu
31 minutes ago
- The Hindu
‘Now is the time to build a true Bharatiya model curriculum to nurture a healthy society'
'A job is only a byproduct of education. Its true purpose is to create human beings,' National Organising Secretary of the Bharatiya Shikshana Mandal B.R. Shankaranand has said. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the one-day National Conference on Bharatiya Model of Curriculum Design jointly organised by the Central University of Karnataka, Bharatiya Shikshana Mandal and Shetty Institute of Technology, Kalaburagi, on Thursday. Mr. Shankaranand underlined the importance of developing an indigenous education framework. 'The British education system of 1835 derailed our curriculum to produce clerks and unfortunately, for the last 200 years, we have continued as mental slaves of that system. Now is the time to build a true Bharatiya model of curriculum, one that nurtures mentally and physically healthy individuals, strong families and a healthy society, which ultimately leads to a healthy nation. For this, education must be fearless and rooted in our own objectives and methodologies,' he said. Stressing the need to move from teacher-centric to student-centric approaches, he added, 'Education must be learning-centric and outcome-based. Teachers should be more than instructors. They must become Gurus, committed, dedicated and devoted. True education should make people realise the truth of the world and inspire them to be just, kind and truthful. NEP 2020 is a step in this direction, aiming to create true human beings.' Vice-Chancellor of Central University Battu Satyanarayana, who presided over the programme as chief guest, highlighted India's growing global relevance in education. 'Today, people across the world are coming to India to study our culture, philosophy, science and literature. The Indian education system emphasises family and social relationships which are needed now more than ever. The goal of Viksit Bharat is to provide a model education system for the world and this is possible through Indian curriculum design,' he said. He added that outcome-based education, as envisaged by NEP 2020, values knowledge over certificates and gives true meaning to human life. President of the Bharatiya Shikshana Mandal Uttar Prantya Basavaraj Anami and Director of Shetty Group of Institutes Anirudh Shetty also addressed the gathering. Several dignitaries, including Udayashankar Shetty, Basavaraj Donur, G.R. Angadi, Ganesh Pawar, Basavaraj Kubakaddi, Sharanu Udanoor, Siddu Madarkandi, Ravindra Hegadi, Niteen and Pallavi Patil B., along with faculty members, invitees and delegates participated in the event.
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Congress & SP pushed country into crisis, served only their families: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party pushed the country into an identity crisis after centuries of exploitation by the Mughals and British, and that the two never worked for inclusive development, serving only their own families. Speaking at the inauguration of a cement plant in Etah, Adityanath claimed that the district once synonymous with crime and mafia rule has now transformed into a hub of investment and industry. 'Eight-nine years ago, Etah was known for land encroachments, and the poor had no voice. Today, it is known for law and order, power generation and industrial growth,' he said. The Chief Minister said the nearby Jawaharpur thermal power plant generates 1,500 MW power, while Shree Cement's unit worth Rs 750 crore has created 500 direct jobs and more than 3,000 indirect employment opportunities. 'This investment is not only about jobs but also about strengthening of trade, transport and distribution networks — the real foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat. There was a time when even a commodity like cement was rationed and would be available only through connections, making house construction extremely difficult,' he said. 'How could development take place with such an intent and policies?' he asked. India, which was 11th in the world economy in 2014 due to the policies of the Congress and SP, has now risen to 4th place under PM Modi and is set to become the third-largest economy within two years, he claimed. Uttar Pradesh too, he said, has risen from the seventh-largest state economy in 2017 to the second-largest today, the CM added. He credited this economic turnaround to strict action against the mafia and rioters, which restored investors' confidence. 'UP has received investment proposals worth Rs 45 lakh crore, out of which Rs 15 lakh crore have already been executed, creating employment for 60 lakh youth,' he said. He added that 60,244 youth, including many from Etah, were recruited into the police force without any discrimination. Under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Yojana, 70,000 young entrepreneurs received interest- and guarantee-free loans to set up enterprises. The Chief Minister noted that 'bells and ghungroos' of Etah's Jalesar remain an integral part of worship and musical performances. The state is preparing a roadmap for Viksit Bharat by linking this cultural heritage with modern development, he said, adding: 'In the Legislative Assembly and Council, a 24-hour discussion was held on key sectors, and experts will now visit every district to train youth and prepare district-level roadmaps with public participation.' The state, he said, will honour every promise made under the industrial policy.
