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Australians could be told to earn £31K or leave the UK
UK Immigration Minister Damian Green has unveiled a new plan that will see migrants kicked out after five years if they earn less than £31,000 a year. He was quoted as saying the UK wants “people who will benefit Britain, not just those who will benefit by Britain”.
UK Immigration Minister Damian Green has unveiled a new plan that may see Australians and other migrants in the UK kicked out of Britain after five years if they earn less than £31,000 a year.
Speaking to influential think tank, the Policy Exchange group, Mr Green told them that “we will end the assumption settlement is an option for all. Instead, we will accord it to the brightest and best”.
He argued that foreigners must “add to the quality of life in Britain”, that Britain has no need for more “middle managers” or “unskilled labour” and only the “brightest and best” will be welcome to settle.
Under current rules, skilled workers such as nurses and chefs who have been allowed in on work visas may apply for permanent residency after five years. However on the recommendation of Home Office advisers, Green plans to set a minimum salary of between £31,000 and £49,000 for those wishing to continue living in Britain.
This would be the first time an income hurdle has been set for migrants who wish to remain in the UK, which includes thousands of expat Australians. Each year about 60,000 skilled workers win the right to permanent settlement in Britain, but the Migration Advisory Committee says a £31,000 pay threshold would cut the figure to 20,000. This comes on the back of the UK government’s pledge to cut net migration from 242,000 to “tens of thousands”.
The Coalition government has also announced a cap on non-EU citizens and is cracking down on sham marriages and bogus students and the Immigration Minister hopes to redefine the current “points-based system” to a “contribution-based system”.
“We need to know not just that the right numbers of people are coming here, but that the right people are coming here,” Green said last week. “People who will benefit Britain, not just those who will benefit by Britain.
“Bringing people to the UK who can play no role in the life of this country is unacceptable.
“I want us to be much more intelligently selective about who we let come here. We need to know that you’re not going to be living off benefits from day one of arriving here.”
Green also announced new specialist routes to improve the visa system for short-term business visitors and top entertainers, as well as a “young talent” scheme to encourage entrepreneurs and scientists to immigrate.
The Guardian reported that ministers are also proposing to ban British residents from bringing an overseas-born spouse into the country unless they have a minimum household income of £25,700 a year.
However there are already rumblings in Britain about the hard-line immigration plans. Social commentator and founder of UK Immigrant Magazine, Austin Aneke, told the Huffington Post that Mr Green’s comments show “a complete display of contempt for vulnerable immigrants”.
“The UK and other EU countries have dual responsibilities to both the EU and their former colonies (Commonwealth),” writes Aneke. “The UK should attempt to live to her responsibilities to both the EU and the Commonwealth, and should treat immigrants from Commonwealth countries with greater respect.”
As an Australian, do you think a minimum £31K salary is fair or unreasonable?
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21 Comments
I earnt well over 31K after 6yrs but THAT didnt stop me from leaving that grubby little Island. My grandparent visa didnt entitle me to any benefits. I met plenty of aussie / kiwis & saffas & none were trying to bludge on the system. We are all a bunch of HARD WORKERS, HARD TRAVELLERS & HARD PLAYERS & I think they are targeting the wrong people!!
Seems like a silly political stunt to me. Aussies have such a long history of working in the UK and its been great for the two countries’ relations. The people affected by this are probably young and poorly paid but they are still contributing – it is not the same as being unemployed and/or a burden on the welfare system!
Interesting to see what Julia will have to say about this.
Lets hope the Australian govt introduce a similar level o required income for the current 1.4 million brits currently living in oz!As is the case here in the uk for most auzzies,Most brits would fail to demonstrate such a income.This would open up our job market for native auzzies as well as for those forced to return due to these new income requirements.It seems the uk has now adopted a apartheid system,one rule for europeans(who’s forefathers tried to destroy this country)and another for non europeans,(which in the case of Australians who’s forefathers fought for this country)Thanks very much.
About time. This Tory government has been pledging to cut down on non-EU immigration for some time, and this is a sensible approach. Larger salaries for permanent settlement means more disposable income being plowed back into the economy. The Australians moaning about this ruling need to realise that the UK has obligations to the EU first and foremost. Possibly not ideal, but that’s how it is. Giving favoritism to Australians means giving favoritism to all other commonwealth nations, something the UK does not have the resources to do.
The British government is targeting the wrong people and should give Australians bilaterial/preferential visa conditions based on the fact that so many British have settled in Australia and that they tend not to collectively run to collect social benefits immediately after getting in to the country!
Why can’t Australia and New Zealand be given preferential treatment? We fought for Britain in two wars and so many of our people are the grandchildren of British people. Why can’t we come first in the queue? So many of our family members died fighting for and protecting Britain.We have the Union Jack on our flag and we are part of things still.
I don’t know any Australian that comes to the Uk with the intention of claiming benefits from the government. We come to work, travel and contribute to the country which we call our second home.
They simply forgot that people came to do the works that British people can’t or don’t want to do, not because the work is lucrative. And after 5 years, when they are more adapted to the work and the society, they are asked to leave. This is a silly idea that is of nobody’s interest!
I left London, I moved back to Australia for a year and now live in Provence in grace. The qualify of life is better I’m being paid more if you would believe that, and the visas and administration is far more simple. If the uk goes through with this ultimately they are shooting themselves in the foot. It is already relatively unappealing as a long term destination.
Funnily enough the idea that riches equates to social output is a large part of what is wrong with the country, as a cancer researcher in the uk I had to go through the same rigmarole as all else but for a salary of only 25K. Good luck UK, i hope you learn a hard lesson.
I think it stinks. There’s no way I could earn £31,000 a year in my job in travel. The cost of living keeps going up, but the wages aren’t!
Damo be careful what you wish for…maaate Britain needs immigrants as they are the non-lazy ones, who do the ‘actual’ dirty work in Britain, hence why they are paid below £31K…and none of you complained before. Love to see how your Tory mates cope with cleaning their own toilets and taking their own children to kinder!
I am an Australian earning more than £31k a year who has lived in the UK for almost 5 years. This country has benefited from me and yet I have had to continuously apply and pay for the privilege to contribute. This is a misguided policy by the Government to curb their immigration worries. Australians are, not on the whole, a contributing factor to this, and I feel that the Government will be the ones to miss on Aussie talent. Needless to say I will be returning to Australia where I do not have to pay for the privilege and where the country will once again benefit from my skills.
Obviously not. Its freaking bad idea!!!!
I think it should be skills based. You can be a nurse, engineer etc and not earn the required money propose but your skills are still required by the country. I don’t think its actually got to do with money but SKILLS
I love how they say “People who will benefit Britain, not just those who will benefit by Britain.” but on my working holiday visa and currently Tier2 Visa is states you have no access to public help or benefits. Glad I am heading home in April
Good god we earn that easy! But don’t want to bring up our daughter here! We on 1st flight out as soon as contract ends!
It would be nice to adopt the same policy here in the US …however…it can never happen!…ACLU and other Morons..
would be jumping off bridges all over the Country.
The vast majority of us Brits have no problem at all with Aussies. Unfortunately the government live in their own bubble where the thousands of Eastern Europeans aren’t undercutting British workers. £31,000 is just a dream for a helluva lot of hard-working Brits. Hopefully the government will see sense.
Excellent move. If you haven’t got above 31K after 5 years then you wouldn’t want to hang around anyway, unless you’re from a poor country. But why should Britain offer you a better life if you can’t add something to it? Blair and Brown brought in far too many people who live on benefits and often can’t even speak English. All that does is make Britain a poorer and worse place to be. As for Steve P above, the arrogance came from Labour who decided to do all this on the sly. The reason you think Australians wouldn’t want to visit is that the UK didn’t get a Tory (or even better, UKIP) government sooner!
Such arrogance, no surprise from this tory government. I can’t see why anyone from Australia would want to visit Britain anyway.
You obviously dont know the strict rules and regulations for living in austraia then. Britain is full and something needs to be done