Government Reverses Decision on Salary Threshold for Family Visas

The UK government has made a U-turn on its new salary threshold rules for family visas, reducing the minimum income requirement from £38,700 to £29,000. The initial decision sparked concerns that it would separate families, but Home Office Minister Lord Sharpe of Epsom clarified that the threshold will start at £29,000 and did not specify when it would increase.

Crackdown on Net Migration

Home Secretary James Cleverly's five-point plan to tackle net migration includes this salary threshold reduction. Last year, net migration reached a record high of 745,000, prompting the government to address the issue by targeting foreign care workers and students bringing dependents.

Disappointment and Criticism

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis expressed his disappointment with the government's retreat on the salary threshold, calling it "deeply disappointing". Meanwhile, Lib Dem frontbencher Alistair Carmichael criticized the decision as another attempt to appease hardliners within the government.

James Cleverly has been urged to involve experts and collaborate with politicians to make more informed decisions.