We told Rishi Sunak to take the price tag off love on Valentine's Day
On Valentine’s Day, a day when many of us celebrated the love in our lives, thousands of families were facing the reality of being torn apart by heartless rules in just a few months. That’s why we joined Reunite Families UK and Migrant Voice to hand in petitions to Rishi Sunak opposing these cruel plans signed by over 250,000 people.
In December last year, Home Secretary James Cleverly announced a huge increase of £20k to the minimum income required for people to live in the UK with their foreign partner. Thanks to people power, the Government was forced to backtrack from increasing the requirement by £20k all in one go, instead opting for a phased approach.
This April the first hike will come into force, increasing the minimum income required from £18,600 to £29,000 - 50% of Brits don’t earn this amount. And we know this increase will be disproportionately felt by women, young people, single parents, and those living outside of the South East of England.
Families are facing the impossible decision of splitting up and creating single-parent households. We know the devastating impact that family separation has on all members of the family, but especially on children. In Reunite Families UK’s recent research, 92% of people said that their children’s mental health has suffered because of the separation from a parent.
“No matter the money we have in the bank, where we live, or the colour of our skin, all of us should be able to build a life with the person we love.
But this Government has shown again that it will stop at nothing – not even curtailing the rights of British citizens to live with their families – to try to look tough on migration. We know the devastating impact that family separation has on all members of the family, but especially on children.
We’ve seen parents forced to parent alone, while their partner lives thousands of miles away; children whose only contact for years with one of their parents has been via a screen; families put on hold; and relationships breaking down. This Government needs to take the price tag off love.
There should be no minimum income requirement at all, because wherever it is set, it will exclude some families and prevent British citizens from exercising their right to a family life.”
Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Praxis
Loving someone born outside the UK should not be a privilege that only the rich can afford. By Spring 2025, the Government plans to increase the minimum income required to live with a foreign partner to £38,700.
Email your MP today and urge them to stand against this heartless policy! Phased or not, it’ll ruin lives.