UK Labour reviews minimum salary for family visas

The Labour Party has initiated a review of the Conservative government's proposed increase in the minimum income requirement for family visas, which would have raised the threshold to £38,700 by early 2025. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has tasked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) with evaluating the financial requirements for family migration, particularly the previous government's plans to escalate the income threshold. This review is expected to take nine months, during which the MAC will consider various factors related to family migration policy. The Conservative government had previously raised the minimum income requirement from £18,600 to £29,000, with plans for further increases aimed at reducing net migration by 300,000 annually. However, concerns were raised that such high income thresholds could lead to family separations, prompting delays in implementing the £38,700 requirement. Cooper's review may lead to the abandonment of these plans altogether, reflecting Labour's commitment to a fair migration system. Labour's stance on migration is also influenced by the record high net migration figures, which reached 764,000 under the Conservatives. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has expressed a desire to lower these figures but has refrained from setting specific targets. He emphasized the need for employers to prioritize hiring British workers over relying on overseas labor. The outcome of the MAC's review will be crucial in shaping future family migration policies and could significantly impact the lives of many families in the UK, as well as the broader immigration landscape.