Crafty buggers, the UK Government ... since EU membership rules out turning the key in the "gates" of our already overpopulated - yet tiny - lock~shaped mainland to fend~off invading (non Englsh speaking) masses from our nearest neighbouring [continental] countries ... it compensates by:

(a) toughening up its entry conditions for people from virtually all other overseas nations - many of whom are, in fact, far more capable of communicating fluently with native Brits than the vast majority from Europe - and

(b) insisting non-Europeans now study ancient British history (which, even if interesting enough to some ... ... has no actual bearing on their lives here)

all at a crippling financial and emotional cost to applicants and their sponsors.

ILR now takes 5 years to obtain. Meaning that, after 30 months, non EEA partners of British subjects need to find another £1,000 (that's
at today's prices) to simply extend their FLR.

's daylight robbery ... and, for the government alone, a win-win situation!