Commenting after the announcement, Graham said: “It is a scandal that foreign criminals have been able to use human rights laws to stay in the UK. Deportation should be the norm for anyone receiving a prison sentence of at least 12 months; they should be put on a plane and sent away. The public interest has to come first, that’s why I welcome these new measures.”
From next month, only those earning at least £18,600 will be able to bring in a spouse or partner from outside Europe. Higher thresholds will apply to those seeking to bring non-EU dependent children to the UK: £22,400 for one child and an additional £2,400 for each further child.
Graham said: “Many local people tell me they have lost confidence in the immigration system because under Labour was it was simply uncontrolled. Conservatives in government are now getting a grip and reforming all routes of entry to bring net migration down.
“Britain is open to the brightest and the best, but applicants who don’t have the funds to support themselves or who lack the language skills they need to play a full part in British life will in future be refused entry.”
Home Secretary Theresa May MP said: “It is unacceptable that foreign nationals whose criminal behaviour undermines our way of life can use weak human rights claims to dodge deportation.
“We want these new rules to make it clear when the rights of the law abiding majority will outweigh a foreign criminal’s right to family and private life. By voting on this in the House of Commons, Parliament will define for the first time where the balance should lie.”
Other new rules include requiring, from October 2013, all applicants for settlement to speak better English and pass the ‘Life in the UK Test’ and a minimum probationary period of five years for settlement to deter sham marriages.