May targets families in latest attempt to cut migration to UK
IMMIGRANTS who plan to bring relatives to the UK will face much tougher rules including a test of their income, under plans set out by home secretary Theresa May.
And judges will be encouraged to deport more foreign criminals by making it tougher for them to claim a right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights, if the government’s plans win the backing of parliament.
May told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show yesterday that judges “haven’t been qualifying” the right to family life “in the way that the European Convention enables them to”, meaning too many criminals are allowed to stay in the country.
“This is not an absolute right”, she added.
The proposal will be put to a parliamentary vote, and new laws would be introduced if judges try to obstruct the plans. She added that any immigrant hoping to bring their spouse into the country would have to prove they earned at least £18,600 a year in order to support them, jumping to £22,400 for a child and rising £2,400 for every additional child.
May also plans to force migrants to pass an English test and a “life in the UK” test from next year.