Conservatives propose £38,700 salary threshold for UK work visas, tighten migrant rules

The Conservative Party is proposing significant changes to immigration rules in the UK, notably increasing the minimum salary threshold for work visas and family-related visas to £38,700. This measure aims to reduce the number of low-skilled migrants and ensure that those entering the UK are self-sufficient. Additionally, migrants wishing to bring spouses must be over 23 years old, have been married for at least two years, and will face a ban on visas for first-cousin marriages. The amendments, part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, also include an annual cap on family visas and a longer residency requirement for indefinite leave to remain. The Labour government has yet to indicate whether it will support these amendments, which are seen as a shift towards stricter immigration controls in response to rising immigration numbers. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated these measures are necessary to fix what he described as a chaotic immigration system left by the previous administration.