I probably won't make any friends saying this...but
I disagree and cannot sign the petition.
Looking at this objectively and not personally - something has to be done about the ever increasing population of the UK, the increasing cost to funded education, health & benefits and impact on infrastructure such as lack of housing.
The petition states "This policy would privilege wealthy applicants, while discriminating against low-income/unemployed UK citizens. These proposals set out to challenge Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, by making wealth a priority over love and the respect for family life."
Yes, it could be argued that way.. and be manipulated and abused all too easily.It could also be argued that we all have a human right to live wherever we like.
So What would a reasonable alternative be? I don't think it is the intention to discriminate in favour of the wealthy or higher than average earner, but simply to try and effect their ruling that "Settlement applicants must demonstrate they meet all of the immigration rules including that they can be maintained and accommodated without recourse to public funds".
I cannot see an alternative workable solution.
To play devil's advocate: I would also say let's face it, a salary of £25,700 (the higher proposed wage limit) for a family household is not a high income and by no means guarantees an immigrant will not make a claim on some kind of state funded provision.
I also agree with Graham, it is discriminatory, one size fits all. Having said that... any policy that is brought in will discriminate against some group.
I really do appreciate the proposals are causing worry and concern to members and hope that if brought in they do not impact on your own circumstances too greatly. I too am hoping that my partner will get a visit visa within the next couple of months and if that goes well, later a fiancee or spousal visa. But I still feel that some kind of restriction needs to be effected.
Personally, I think that MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) looks in the wrong direction and something has to be done about the numbers of eastern EU migrants. However non EU applications are an easier target.
A couple of interesting documents I have come across are:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14668726
"and that's why this plentiful of supply of cheap and mobile Eastern European labour is a headache for ministers. Their continued arrival, combined with the current falls in the numbers of all people emigrating, mean the government has to look elsewhere to hit the net migration target".
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd...ions_aug11.pdf an excerpt of which is:
NINo (National Insirance Number) registrations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK, top 20 countries for 2010/11
Rank* Country Total (thousands) % Difference to 2009/10
1▲ Poland 81.18 16%
2▼ India 74.41 -1%
3▲ Pakistan 41.24 80%
4▼ Republic of Lithuania 40.84 74%
5▼ Republic of Latvia 27.26 18%
6▲ Spain 24.37 85%
7▲ France 22.55 37%
8▲ Italy 22.10 53%
9▼ Romania 22.00 24%
10▼ Nigeria 17.84 10%
11▲ China Peoples Republic 17.12 42%
12▲ Republic of Ireland 16.13 56%
13▼ Australia 15.85 18%
14▲ Hungary 15.65 36%
15▲ Sri Lanka 14.18 80%
16▼ Bulgaria 13.94 11%
17▲ Portugal 13.88 41%
18▼ Bangladesh 13.84 -35%
19▼ Germany 13.24 25%
20▼ Slovak Republic 11.67 -12%
