BritCits member Rob Jarvis has shared with us email exchanges he had with his MP, Jason McCartney for Colne Valley. What struck us was Jason's very narrow definition of what constitutes a British family. According to Jason, it appears that where British citizens have a spouse or parent who is not British, they do not constitute a British family. (!)
"On 23 Jun 2015, at 19:33, MCCARTNEY, Jason <jason.mccartney.mp@
.....No British families have been split up,
because by definition all the people in these families are not British.
This was in response to Rob pointing out that about 20,000 families have been impacted by UK immigration rules which include a pre-entry english language test, a minimum £18,600 financial threshold imposted on the British citizen alone (contrary to Jason's assertion that the couple must show they can pay their own way the rules in fact impose the requirement on the British sponsor alone) and an incredible amount of red tape that even sees those who meet all the requirements inexplicably refused and thus caught in a complex web of lawyers and appeals.
The
biggest issue on the doorstep during the election campaign was
immigration. Voter after voter told me they didn’t want people moving
into our country who could not speak the language and
if were given residency would have access to schools, health care, etc
when they are already overstretched. Only allowing those spouses into
the country when the couple could pay their own way was one of our most
popular policies amongst voters...."
This was in response to Rob pointing out that about 20,000 families have been impacted by UK immigration rules which include a pre-entry english language test, a minimum £18,600 financial threshold imposted on the British citizen alone (contrary to Jason's assertion that the couple must show they can pay their own way the rules in fact impose the requirement on the British sponsor alone) and an incredible amount of red tape that even sees those who meet all the requirements inexplicably refused and thus caught in a complex web of lawyers and appeals.
Jason's definition of British families is an astounding and insulting interpretation, targetting not only these 20,000 or so families, but the millions of other British citizens who happen to love a foreigner.
BritCits did offer Jason the opportunity to clarify what he meant, however his response to us and others who approached him in the same vein, was to block us on Twitter. How charming to see an MP who really cares what voters think. Feel free to contact Jason yourself on Twitter (beware he may block you too!) @jasonmccartney or by email: jason.mccartney.mp@
You can read the email exchange in full here.
Jason linked to a Daily Mail article but neglects to mention "But after an Immigration Tribunal ruled in their favour, the Home Office dropped its case against the family from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, saving the family from fighting a costly appeal."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2712993/Pregnant-mother-deported-Australia-despite-having-British-husband-two-British-children.html#ixzz3dyyxrgkY