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Conservative members of Parliament on the right have criticized Rishi Sunak for the government’s recent reversal on visa regulations intended to decrease legal immigration numbers.
The prime minister faced criticism for displaying a “disappointing show of vulnerability” in response to the intense backlash against revisiting stricter income requirements for dependents.
The proposal to increase the minimum salary requirement for British citizens to bring their foreign family members to live in the UK has been weakened by the Tory government, now setting it at £38,700.
Instead, the government has announced intentions to raise the limit to £29,000 in the upcoming season – with a promise to implement additional increases at unspecified times.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who resigned in anger over Mr. Sunak’s “weak” deportation bill for Rwanda, was at the forefront of the outraged response from hardline dissenters.
According to a representative for Mr. Jenrick, the visa changes that were promised earlier this month must be put into effect immediately and should not be delayed until spring or weakened. They believe that more actions are necessary, not fewer.
According to David Jones MP, deputy chair of the ERG for the Conservative Party, the government should have remained steadfast in its decision.
The conservative individual stated that the decision was “an unfortunate indication of vulnerability – exacerbated by the fact that the legislative body was not in session and therefore could not question government officials.”
In early December, James Cleverly revealed a plan for a series of modifications to the visa system.
The image is courtesy of Pool/AFP via Getty Images.
Tory leader Jonathan Gullis, who also advocates for stricter immigration regulations, expressed his disappointment on X, stating, “This ruling is extremely disheartening and undermines our progress.”
Miriam Cates, one of the co-chairs of the influential New Conservatives group of backbenchers, expressed concern over the partial reversal, stating that it does not signify positive outcomes.
Chairman of the Common Sense Group, Sir John Hayes, a strong supporter of dismissed home secretary Suella Braverman, stated that there must be a swift increase in the earnings threshold to £38,700 in order to provide people with a sense of security.
On Friday, during an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr. Hayes emphasized the urgency of completing the task in order for individuals to have a clear understanding of their position.
In the beginning of December, James Cleverly, the home secretary, declared a change in the family visa requirement from £18,600 to £38,700. This was one of several actions taken to control legal migration.
After official data showed a record of 745,000 net migration, causing uproar from the Tory party.
The decision received backlash as it posed a risk of separating families and creating uncertainty for those planning to stay in Britain.
Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce legal immigration and halt the arrival of boats.
Lord Sharpe of Epsom, the Home Office minister, announced that a revision is being made to the new £29,000 threshold in response to a written question in parliament on Thursday. The minister stated that the increase will occur gradually to provide predictability.
The Home Office released a document outlining their intentions, stating that modifications to the family visa program will only impact future candidates.
If someone receives a fiancee visa before the minimum income requirement is increased, they will still need to meet the £18,600 requirement when applying for a family visa instead of the new threshold.
Yvette Cooper, the Shadow Home Secretary, expressed her belief that this change is further proof of the Conservative government’s disorder in managing immigration and the economy.
She stated that the new proposals were made without consulting anyone and without considering the effects of significant changes to spousal visas on families in the upcoming year. It is not surprising that they are now hastily retracting their plans.
The Liberal Democrats stated that the proposed threshold of £38,700 has always been impractical.
The spokesperson for the party’s home affairs, Alistair Carmichael, stated that this was a hasty attempt to appease the hardline members of their own party. James Cleverly should stop digging and put down the shovel.
The organization Reunite Families UK, which works to oppose the changes to visas, expressed concerns about the new threshold of £29,000, stating it is still significantly high and could lead to significant disruptions.
They expressed confusion about the new proposal to gradually increase the threshold, stating that the current process is already complex enough without this added factor.
Unison and the National Care Forum have urged ministers to abandon any potential raise. “The social care industry would not be able to operate without the assistance of foreign employees.”
Source: independent.co.uk
