Conservatives Push for Stricter Immigration Policies with New Work Visa Salary Hikes

The Conservative Party in the UK is advocating for an increase in salary thresholds for all work visas to £38,700, as part of proposed amendments to the ongoing immigration bill in Parliament. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp emphasized the need to curb mass migration, blaming it for the influx of low-skilled workers into the UK, which he argues burdens taxpayers and public services. Philp’s proposal also seeks to change marriage visa regulations, requiring couples to be married for at least two years and both be over the age of 23 to qualify for bringing partners into the UK.

Currently, the minimum salary for work visa applicants has seen a significant jump from £26,200 to £38,700 since April 2024, although certain sectors like health and social care are exempt. Philp criticized the previous Conservative government’s retreat from implementing such policies and suggested that the Labour administration is neglecting necessary immigration reforms.

Meanwhile, the Labour government is promoting its own Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, aiming to combat human trafficking more effectively and roll back aspects of the Conservative’s previous measures, such as the controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The discourse reflects a broader debate on immigration policy in the UK, highlighting the tension between different political viewpoints and the complexities of managing immigration in a changing economic landscape.