Save Mae Campaign video

Source :Save Mae Campaign

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu1-35TY_o8

 After 20 years of marriage, wife from Bristol now faces deportation :
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/20-years-marriage-wife-faces-deportation/story-23169702-detail/story.html

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bristol-family-seperated-wife-faces-possibility/story-23175626-detail/story.html

http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/after-20-years-of-marriage-wife-from.html

After 20 years of marriage, wife from Bristol now faces deportation

Source :Bristol Post

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/20-years-marriage-wife-faces-deportation/story-23169702-detail/story.html

'Mr Draper, 59, a property developer, said: "After more than a year of visa negotiations involving lawyers and wranglings with the court, our faith in the immigration system has been totally destroyed. We don't know why Mae wasn't given a one-on-one interview at the time of applying, in which our circumstances could have been explained properly, instead of forms containing tick boxes.

"Mae is a trained midwife and wants to work and live in this country but is being denied that opportunity, despite us having been married for nearly 20 years.

"The UK Border Agency should not be using immigration rules in this way, to keep a decent hard-working family apart."

Don't take my mum away, Hanham teenager begs immigration authorities : http://theweekin.co.uk/uncategorized/dont-take-mum-away-hanham-teenager-begs-immigration-authorities/

'A DVD highlighting the Save Mae Campaign has been produced, in which the couple’s 14-year-old daughter Rhian, a student at the John Cabot Academy in Kingswood, pleads with the immigration authorities not to take her mum away, saying: “My family is being torn apart by the UK Government.” '

FAQ

Updated answers to the most frequently asked questions here with links to some excellent articles, reports and forums.  Topics covered include:

• UK's immigration rules, including the MM case impacting spouses/partners, 
• UK's immigration rules for Adult Dependant Relatives
• EU treaty rights
• Surinder Singh - special application of EU treaty rights for home state

'Mary's story'


Source : Family Immigration Alliance

http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/marys-story/

'... I can not take my child to Iran unless my husband goes to the Iranian Islamic centre in London and convert to Islam: a religion that nor me not my husband believe in or practice. All this in order to be allowed to apply for a visa to take my child to Iran. I feel trapped in a prison  and back in Iran I felt the same I don’t know where on this planet I can go to live a simple life and feel free.'

Please follow the Family Immigration Alliance : http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/

'Immigration rules are tearing us apart'

Source : Driffield Times & Post (East Yorkshire)

http://www.driffieldtoday.co.uk/news/local/immigration-rules-are-tearing-us-apart-1-6824646

'A Driffield man has attacked UK immigration laws which are about to force him and his American girlfriend to live on different sides of the Atlantic. Archeologist Peter Makey, 51, has now started a petition and is writing to Home Secretary Theresa May to ask her to show compassion and allow his fiancée Tina Cintron, 61, from Honolulu, Hawaii, to live with him at his home in Bridge Street. '

The article goes on to note that Peter has been an unpaid carer for his late brother and late mother for many years.

The average salary in Yorkshire and the Humber in 2007 (pre-recession) was £18,614  - just £14 above the income threshold of £18,600. As East Yorkshire is a largely rural area, one might anticipate the average salary to be below the income threshold.

You can sign the petition here :
http://www.change.org/p/the-uk-home-office-home-secretary-grant-nora-c-cintron-aka-tina-leave-to-remain-in-the-uk

Quick update from day of action... 

Thanks to those who attended. A fuller update will provided in due course, but some highlights :

From the morning All-Party Parliamentary Group session, chaired by Paul Blomfield MP :

Andrew Percy MP (Conservative) and Katy Clark MP (Labour) provide case studies of constituents affected, as well as a thoughtful contribution from the centre-right think tank Bright Blue on values, and an excellent contribution from the Lib Dem peer Lord Teverson. Very heartening to see members of all parties speaking out on this - including Conservatives.

Many great contributions from the floor as well, in particular Guy Taylor of JCWI made an excellent speech calling on politicians to make a commitment to scrapping the rules and reuniting families. Guy wants one more day of action next 9th July, and then for it to be done. 'A review of the rules would be nice, but scrapping them is what we need'. I couldn't agree more.

On the streets :

Demo outside the Home Office - a joyous occasion for solidarity, protest, friendship and laughter, and some excellent chanting (ably led by Lee )  :

'I love my foreign spouse... ' Facebook group has more photos :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/139807999382936/


The parliamentary session in the evening and the launch of the JCWI/BritCits adult dependant relatives report, chaired by Sarah Teather MP :

'You can't see the carpet' :
https://twitter.com/JCWInews/status/486932778643386368

Many great contributions, including linking the adult dependant relative issues with the rights of children. 

'Harsh, Unjust, Unnecessary' : Adult Dependant Relative Report, by JCWI with BritCits, launched 9th July 2014 :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/233262294/Adr-Report

Please read this detailed and moving report!

'I don’t want to leave my country. I will miss my home I will miss my friends and school. I want to live in my country with my whole family and friends. I really really don’t want to go to any other country. It doesn’t feel nice and I don’t want to do it.'

— British child, 7 years old

JCWI : Immigration restrictions condemn elderly parents to lonely twilight years :
http://www.jcwi.org.uk/blog/2014/07/09/immigration-restrictions-condemn-elderly-parents-lonely-twilight-years

In particular : Shadow Immigration Minister David Hanson committed to reviewing the family immigration rules should Labour win office. This follows on from the Liberal Democrats' endorsing a similar position a couple of months ago (see : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/welcome-news-liberal-democrats-endorse.html ). This is a most welcome statement and one we will certainly follow up on.

Our blogs on last year's day of action :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/a%20very%20good%20day

Immigration Restrictions Condemn Elderly Parents to Lonely Twilight years. - See more at: http://jcwi.org.uk/blog/2014/07/09/immigration-restrictions-condemn-elderly-parents-lonely-twilight-years#sthash.La2MZVi2.dpuf

------


And finally...

Self-righting Fukushima dolls on display at U.K. Parliament

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/07/08/national/self-righting-fukushima-dolls-display-u-k-parliament/

 'Sixty-six traditional tumble dolls from Fukushima Prefecture are on display inside Britain’s Houses of Parliament, several of them the work of celebrity designers.

'The event was organized by a group of Fukushima expatriates living in Britain.

'They say the “okiagari-koboshi” dolls, which right themselves when tipped over, demonstrate the fortitude of the Fukushima people and illustrate Japan’s efforts to rebuild from the devastation of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.'

Spotted while passing through Parliament on the day of action. A nice reminder of (adopted) 'home' for your correspondent.

 

'I get knocked down, then I get up again' : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDkVQvhZx04

Petition : Allow unconditional permanent right of residence in U.K. to parents of all U.K. Citizens - not just to those within EEA countries

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-allow-unconditional-permanent-right-of-residence-in-u-k-to-parents-of-all-u-k-citizens-not-just-to-those-within-eea-countries

New survey: For immigration practitioners dealing with Adult Dependent Relatives 

BritCits and JCWI are collecting data to assess the impact of the Adult Dependent Relatives ("ADR") rules in force from 9 July 2012. With the government systematically attacking the judicial process, the legal profession and NGO's must rally together. Your help is therefore much appreciated in the research on ADR rules which parliamentarians and lawyers have labelled 'a ban masquerading as a rule'.

Survey results are anonymised and no answer will be attributable to you without your prior consent.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Families 'torn apart' by immigration rules on spouses.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-26370397

'A minimum income requirement imposed on non-EU migrants limits the number able to enter the UK. But some families claim the system is unfair and is keeping spouses and their children apart, as Inside Out East reports.

'Farshid Ghafourpour grew up in Cambridge, was privately educated and went to university in the UK. After graduating, he went to live and work in Thailand - where he met his future wife, Korakot.

'Twelve years later, he is back in the UK to care for his elderly mother. The couple's two daughters, aged six and eight, are both British citizens by birth.

'But unlike many of their classmates, the girls cannot come home from school to a hug from their mother, or have her tuck them into bed at night.

'Their only contact with her is via Skype...

 Adult dependant relatives meetup - East London

http://www.meetup.com/BritCits/events/155743812/

The last in a series. Please be there if you can :
Jagonari Centre, 183-185 Whitechapel Road, London, Thursday February 27th at 6:00 pm.

BritCits and JCWI are holding meetings around the country to discuss the adult dependant rules.

The aim is to share information and see how we can work together to amend what is seen as a ban masquerading as a rule, so that we can look after our family - parents, grandparents etc.

This is a JCWI led initiative and we are lucky they have been successful in obtaining funding for the undertaking of allowing this research.

Also discussed will be the Surinder Singh route - what it is and our experience of it.

More : http://jcwi.org.uk/sites/default/files/ADR%20flyer%20All%20mtgs_0.pdf
---

New petition

'Since 2012, people in the UK have no longer had the same human rights as each other.  Our human rights, and lack of them, are now based on our income.

'Your ability to be with the person you love depends, if you are from different countries, on how much money you earn - even if you have enough to support you both.

'Sign this petition to urge David Cameron to change the law. '

http://chn.ge/1hihccg

Upcoming meetups on Adult Dependant Relatives

BritCits and JCWI are holding meetings around the country to discuss the adult dependant rules.

The aim is to share information and see how we can work together to amend what is seen as a ban masquerading as a rule, so that we can look after our family - parents, grandparents etc.

This is a JCWI led initiative and we are lucky they have been successful in obtaining funding for the undertaking of allowing this research.

Also discussed will be the Surinder Singh route - what it is and our experience of it.

Manchester, 23rd January : http://www.meetup.com/BritCits/events/155743262/

Harrow, 30th January : http://www.meetup.com/BritCits/events/155743442/

Birmingham, 6th February : http://www.meetup.com/BritCits/events/155743532/

Edinburgh, 20th February  : http://www.meetup.com/BritCits/events/155743672/

East London, 27th February : http://www.meetup.com/BritCits/events/155743812/

Shailendra

“Poor immigration rules which lead to breaking up of families, will only keep away highly skilled migrants and economic contributors.”

Shailendra is a British resident living with his wife and child, both also British residents. Both Shailendra and his wife are high earners; they pay their taxes and contribute to National Insurance.

Shailendra came here on a Highly Skilled Visa (Tier 1) and has been working hard ever since - yes to earn a decent salary to better his own quality of life - but also contributing to the British economy – all without claiming any benefits.

All three members of this family satisfy the requirements needed to obtain British citizenship. They have living here for several years now and are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives here, having already established their home.

However, they want their dependant and ageing parents, currently in India, to live with them, in order to be able to take care of them, whilst also living as complete a family life as possible. Culturally, it is the norm for children to look after ageing parents personally, rather than outsource the care.

Shailendra’s parents are not jumping over themselves to move to the UK. Leaving India and all that is familiar to them, is not an easy decision. However they are only willing to do this so that Shailendra does not have to sacrifice his family, career, friends and home in the UK. However, the settlement visa regulations for parents is making Shailendra re-consider his future.

Shailendra’s roots are in India, a country known for its rich culture and close ties with UK. However, what UK completely misses out in understanding, is the close relationship that Indian children share with their parents. Parents are an integral part of family anywhere, but especially in Asia the definition of family includes "parents, spouse and children".

Shailendra really misses this ‘complete family’. His child, just like Shailendra himself, shares a very strong bond with the grandparents, both over 60 and financially dependant on Shailendra.

They need care due to their age related health issues and just sending money is not enough as it defies the purpose of living together as a family, which is - "to support each other in every stage of life".

Most importantly, Shailendra wants to spend his life with his parents, care for them, and provide them the same opportunity to live and develop closer bonds with his kids as they would have got in India or anywhere else.

Shailendra is bemused. He is self-sufficient, does not require any public funds and has the means to look after his parents without any help. He is willing to sign a waiver for his own access to state funds, provide a guarantee or deposit or bonds, and take private healthcare cover for his parents to alleviate any such fears this government might have nonetheless.

But it seems that the government has completely overlooked a very important aspect of immigration, thus forcing him to consider leaving the UK just to be able to reunite with his parents.

With Shailendra will go his taxes, his disposable income and his skills. Indeed, he is already
being approached by agencies for roles in Germany and Ireland. With Shailendra will go his wife and child, and the latter’s right to a British education and upbringing.

However, he doesn’t want to leave his home, however lucrative other offers are. He cannot believe that he has to go into exile just because the UK government cannot understand the value of a very simple family relationship and definition of "family member".

Shailendra is aware that by exercising treaty rights he may be able to return to the UK with his parents using the Surinder Singh route. This most of all strikes him as bizarre.

Several months of unsettling his life in UK, uprooting his child, leaving his job – all because he wants to live in the UK with his parents, without recourse to public funds. All just to be able to live once again in the UK with his parents,.

Rather than denying people their rights in this country the government should make it fairer and possible to reunite family members – the value it brings to the community is priceless.

Else, poor immigration rules will only keep away highly skilled migrants and economic contributors, which UK desperately needs if we are to compete in the global environment with countries like USA, Australia, India, China, Germany and Russia.

More stories about elderly dependants : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/elderly%20dependants 

BMA - 'Family migration rules lack 'basic common sense' : http://bma.org.uk/news-views-analysis/news/2013/june/family-migration-rules-lack-basic-common-sense

Montu

“My mum is all alone and needs me for financial and emotional support.”

Montu is a British Citizen. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters, both of whom are British citizens by birth.

Montu is a Chartered Accountant, and has had a successful career, working with global organisations. He is a high rate taxpayer, and has contributed a six figure sum in taxes to HMRC over the past few years alone.

Montu was brought up in Kenya, by loving parents, who taught him to be good to others, respect the rights of others, care for the elderly, work hard and live within ones means. These are the very values the British government is making it difficult for families to adhere to, whilst simultaneously promoting them and families as the bedrock of our society!

Montu’s father was the sole breadwinner and took care of the day to day running of the house. However, his dad recently passed away after over 40 years in a happy marriage, leaving Montu’s mother devastated and alone.

She has started to become depressed and her health has deteriorated. As anyone who has been through such an episode would appreciate, it is vital for the surviving spouse to have long term family support after such an event. As the only son, this responsibility falls to Montu, whose mother is now completely dependent on him for financial and emotional support.

UK immigration rules however make it impossible for elderly surviving parents to stay with their children in the UK, even without recourse to public funds.

Montu is therefore being forced to consider returning to Kenya (where security remains a major concern) or to move elsewhere in the EU – he is being forced into exile just to be able to look after his widowed mum.

Either option will result in the cessation of Montu's employment in the UK and severe disruption of family life for Montu’s wife and daughters, who as British citizens have the right to a British upbringing and education.

More stories about elderly dependants : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/elderly%20dependants
More stories : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/stories

Manish

“All I want is to be able to look after my parents when they need me most.”

Manish is a British citizen of Indian origin, living in the UK for over 8 years.

He made an informed decision to become a British citizen and make UK his primary residence; the people he met here and our multi-cultural environment were what convinced him this was the right decision.

He is now concerned however that this decision is now taking him away from his parents – parents whose well being is his responsibility. Parents who have sacrificed their happiness to raise Manish to be the decent upstanding citizen he is today.

His parents have been through a lot of hardships and now Manish feels it is his turn to take the weight of their shoulders; to take care of them. Yet he feels helpless because of UK’s immigration rules.

Manish is the sole earner in his family and has been helping them financially for the last few years while trying his best to visit them every year or invite them over to the UK for a visit.

However the last few years has seen his dad’s health deteriorating. As a cancer survivor since 2010, things were going well, until 2013 when Manish’s dad suffered from severe cardiac arrest where he narrowly escaped death. Although recovered now, Manish is haunted by a fear that this could happen again to him.

All Manish wants is to be able to look after his parents in their old age – to have them living here with him so he can look after them. He is prepared to take our fully comprehensive private healthcare cover to ease the burden on the NHS if that’s the concern. However the door has been slammed shut even for those who would not be a burden on taxpayers; even where it means we lose skilled British citizens to other countries that allow family unity.

Manish is a higher-rate tax payer and has never used any benefits or exercised recourse to public funds. He earns enough to support his family, including his parents – yet is being denied the right to do so. He is not alone in finding the UK’s immigration rules for adult dependant relatives vague and ambiguous.

He just wants to be able to look after those that gave him life, when they need him most. It’s not too much to ask.

More stories : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/stories
More on elderly dependants : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/elderly%20dependants

BritCits is now a charity!
Are you linked in to us? You should be!
http://www.linkedin.com/company/3489134

Kuljeet

“I moved here with the expectation that come age 65, my mother would be able to move here with me.”

Kuljeet is a British citizen who has been living in the UK for 13 years. He was handpicked from India to work in the UK design centre as a Digital Electronics Engineer.

Kuljeet’s wife is also a British citizen and she has been working for the NHS as a doctor for 10 years.

Kuljeet was raised by his mother, a single parent and teacher, in India, following her divorce from his dad.

Kuljeet has been aware that he will need to look after his mum; although in a reasonably good state of health at the moment, she is getting older and family bonds mean living in separate countries is not feasible.

The UK seemed ideal to settle in, as it allowed for his to sponsor his mother to have her reside with him in the UK, once she reached the age of 65. Indeed, were it not for this, Kuljeet would have not made a life here, nor opted to become a British citizen.

There was a very clear legitimate expectation set that come time, Kuljeet would be able to fulfil his duties to his parent.

However, changes to UK’s immigration rules have meant that the route for adult dependants is closed, leaving Kuljeet in a very difficult position. Does he leave the UK or let his mother face the hardship of old age on her own?

The latter is not an option. It does not foster the kind of values Kuljeet wants to impart on his two daughters. Daughters who are proud to be British – it’s how they identify themselves, with the UK being the only home they know. Daughters who would be denied the right to a British education, British upbringing and would be forced to leave all that is familiar to them if Kuljeet were to be forced to leave the UK – just to look after his mum. Uprooting them is not something Kuljeet wants to do.

Both the daughters are very attached to their grandmother, who has visited the UK several times. They don’t understand why their grandma is living alone in India – when she could be here with their family.

Kuljeet does not think they are old enough to be told about the government’s rules.

For this family, the rules do not make sense and they feel like they are being punished for having a parent from overseas; for being migrants, albeit British citizens, themselves. Neither Kuljeet nor his wife have ever claimed any benefits – they are both higher rate tax payers and have been so for years. His mother would have no recourse to public funds. How could she be a burden on the state? Indeed, his mother is more likely to get involved in charitable work and keep herself active by helping other people.

More stories about elderly dependants : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/elderly%20dependants

Stella & Ankush

Stella is a British citizen married Ankush, from India, in 2008. She lived in India with her husband for about three years. They have a daughter together, a British citizen born in India and named her Chloe.

In 2011, Stella had to return to the UK as her mum – her only other relative – was diagnosed withcancer, and Stella needed to look after her mum. In March 2013, Stella’s mum passed away, losing the battle to cancer. Ankush was granted a family visit visa which allowed him to be in the UK to help Stella through this period, for three months, from April 2013.

However he is not allowed to stay here because Stella does not earn £18,600. As a full-time carer for her daughter it is not possible for Stella to work in a job paying that kind of money. However Stella received a significant inheritance from her mum and owns the house they live in, outright. So they have a secure home and no accommodation expenses.

She doesn’t want to uproot her daughter once again and move to India. Her daughter is British and should have the right to a British education. She should also have the right to two parents.

Stella has been reading all she can on the immigration rules, but finds every time she gets her head round them, the government changes them again.

It is not possible for Stella to find a job paying over £18,600 in this climate. Even if she did, most of it would go to pay child care fees, and during this time her daughter would have neither father or mother spending time with her. This process is also likely to take nearly 12 months from when Stella starts a job paying over £18,600 to when Ankush would be allowed in the country.

It seems crazy to her. If her husband was here, either he’d be working, or she would and he would
look after their daughter. Stella would therefore no longer need to claim income support.

As each day passes, Stella’s hearts breaks a little more as she is forced to live without her husband, her daughter without a father, and Ankush without his wife and child.

More stories : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/stories

Sean & Sherry Ann

“I haven’t seen my son as I can’t afford to fly across whilst working to be able to support them.”

Sean is a British citizen, who married Sherry Ann from the Philippines, in April 2010 in the Cavite region.

Sean stayed in the Philippines for around four months, before returning to the UK to find work.

They were under immense financial strain and were lucky to have help from Sean’s parents for the birth of their first child, Sean Paul, in September 2010. Sean returned to the Philippines in November 2010 to help his wife through the severe complications with their son’s heart. The cord was wrapped around his neck and the baby was not receiving sufficient oxygen.

Sadly, Sean Paul made it to just two months when the family made the heart wrenching decision to let him go. Sean stayed in the Philippines as his wife was distraught and needed the support from her husband.

Sean returned to the UK in July 2011 to a job he had been lucky to secure through a friend. The family started saving money – they were expecting their second child. In December 2011, Sean Eric was born – full of life for which the family is immensely grateful.

With having to send money to the Philippines however, Sean has found it very difficult to save up for his family to move to the UK, to live with him. He is yet to meet Sean Eric who he has only seen through Skype and photos.

The £18,600 requirement has all but destroyed their hope of being a family. Their son has grandparents in the UK who have never met their only grandson. A British child has never met his own father.

Meeting on rules which bar adult dependant relatives from joining their families 

Thursday 12 December, 2013, at 6 pm. At JCWI office, 115 Old Street, London EC1V 9RT.

Download this flyer : http://www.scribd.com/doc/190064872/ADR-Flyer-Final-1

Immigration rules in force from July 2012 have effectively closed the route for British citizens and residents to sponsor their non-EEA adult dependant relatives to live with them in the UK. Studies show grandparents play a key role in children's lives, contributing to their development.

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in conjunction with BritCits are researching how these rules are affecting families, especially those with young children. JCWI aims to challenge these rules in court.

Attend our briefing meeting for more information. Email us to confirm your attendance or register your interest in future meetings at adr@jcwi.org.uk


Stories about adult dependant relatives :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/elderly%20dependants

Follow JCWI on Twitter :
https://twitter.com/JCWInews
https://twitter.com/JCWInews/status/408978868716843008/photo/1

Sara, Ryan, and Lilly

'My American husband, Ryan, and I married in 2006. We had our daughter in 2008.

'We tried a long distance relationship for a while trying to sort out our visa, but realised quickly that we would struggle with the bureaucracy involved.

'Ryan came to the UK just before the birth of our daughter, Lilly. My grandmother who raised me was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, so he stayed to support me. After struggling on with his father living with us, his father died of a heart attack.

'The police kept harassing Ryan for his passport. Frightened that he would be deported, he went back to the US.

'It's now been almost 2 years since we have seen each other because we are struggling to get the money up.

'We were young and stupid when we got married and we didn't do things the right way, but even so we will never get the money up that they ask. I can't even get a job here in England as no one wants to employ a 'single mother' as I can't work late/early or weekends due to childcare.

'The government are keeping me on benefits when I could be working full time.

'All I want is my husband, my daughter cries because she misses her daddy. We got married without even knowing what we were getting into, we had no idea about visa and income requirements, we just assumed you got married and lived happily ever after.

'In February it will be the second year since we have seen my husband. We have looked at many different routes but because of our situation it's not going to work for us. My husband is struggling to get an education but trying very hard. We plan that he will train to get his truck driving licence and that I'll move away from my family and everything I know to live with him.

'He has no family in America as they are either dead or estranged, so I'll be moving away from all my family to be with him.

'I will do it because I love him, but it's unfair that I've been forced into poverty with out him.

'I'm living in a one bedroom flat with my 5 year old daughter which has cockroaches and mold and it's making us ill.

'One day we'll be together, I'll never give up on him. For now I'll deal with the bad situation I've been dealt with and try to turn it around.'

Jeremy Hunt raises red alert on loneliness

Rose-tinted views of the Asian model for caring for the elderly aside, when Jeremy Hunt highlighted the problem of loneliness among the UK’s ageing population last Friday, the one thing that most people could agree on is that loneliness presents a threat to one’s health.

The results of the BBC survey which triggered the Tory politician, himself married to a Chinese national from Xian, to wage war on loneliness among Britain’s elderly were branded by him as a source of “national shame”.

The health secretary controversially said we should follow the Chinese in looking after our elderly relatives at home. Furthermore, we should only use residential care as, “… a last rather than a first option”, something we could be forgiven in thinking is already the case.

The idea that the Chinese, or nationals of any other Asian nation, care for their elderly in a superior manner to the way we do in the UK is rather assumptive.

China, like the rest of the world, has seen rapid urbanisation and a decline in the number of people looking after their ageing relatives in the same household; so much so, in fact, that a much ridiculed law was enacted in July this year to enforce visits by children to their ageing parents.

The UK, like China, faces the challenge of an increasing older population which requires support. Yet under Theresa May’s amended family migration rules, introduced in July 2012, we have seen the erosion of the family’s ability to care for the elderly.

Under the rules, the visa criteria for adult dependents of British citizens who wish to come to the UK have been tightened to the point they are virtually impossible to meet. The rules require the dependent to be in need of care to perform everyday tasks and for no person in their country of residence to be able to provide such care.

The rules also prevent many Brits who are married to non-EEA nationals from returning to the UK to care for their elderly relatives since sponsors must now be able to demonstrate an annual income of GBP 18,600 a year in order to qualify as a sponsor. But, alas, Hunt, himself a millionaire, has overlooked this financial hurdle.

As a result of the rules, we are certain to see many more elderly abandoned by their children, either abroad or in the UK, not to mention a possible increase in the bill of state care as isolated old people are forced to resort to welfare. One of the many sad things about this abandonment is that it will not be through choice.

Grandparents will continue to be denied the pleasure of witnessing their grandchildren grow up and the elderly will continue to battle through sickness without the support of their children. Yet Hunt thinks we should learn from Asian cultures that supposedly have “reverence and respect for older people”. 

When cherry-picking issues to highlight, Hunt conveniently ignored the fact that loneliness affects people of all ages. A recent study on age and loneliness in Europe found only a two percent difference in the number of elderly people having reported feelings of loneliness compared with the young, while the Mental Health Foundation has found old people to be less likely to feel lonely than young people.

If these studies are accurate, we should be as concerned about the loneliness of people of all ages as we are with the loneliness of older generations. So what about Brits married to non-EEA partners who are forced into singledom due to visa restrictions? Many who fall into this category haven’t seen their spouses or children for months, even years, often for financial or language reasons alone.

So we see a conflict of interests: as Hunt tries to reduce loneliness, May is intent on increasing it, not just by keeping families from living together in the same household, but by keeping them from living in the same country. Now that is a shocker to top even Hunt’s distorted view of China’s traditionally family-centred culture.

Perhaps before rushing to follow a questionable social model for caring for the elderly from abroad, a few minor domestic modifications would go a long way in reducing the UK’s loneliness ranking.