What Percentage of People in the UK Earn Over £35k?
By Darroch
@Darroch (245)
United Kingdom
January 2, 2016 2:01pm CST
I was just reading of five new laws for 2016 .
Four of them seemed fair enough, but the first one I read seemed quite ridiculous.
Basically from April 2016 if you are from outside the EU and have been living in the UK, then you must earn at least £35k per annum or you will be sent back to your country of origin.
Now, regardless of your view on immigration, I was just wondering what percentage of the UK earned more than £35k per annum? Where did they arrive at this figure? Plenty of people earn way less than that and are not what society seem to deem as scroungers.
Are they implying everyone in the UK should have a salary of £35k per annum or more? If so, can my council employed husband please have a significant payrise?
8 people like this
6 responses
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
2 Jan 16
No, I think the point is that only people doing jobs that can't be done by locals or cheaper EU immigrants get to stay. So a company can bring in highly paid people for managerial roles but if they want the guys who pack potatoes, they have to come from within the EU. Average salary is apparently around £26.5k.
3 people like this
@Darroch (245)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
I do though wonder if there will need to be exceptions though as surely they wont send someone back to their country of origin if say they married someone from the UK and potentially even had children. All the article I read said was that if they had been here over 5 years and weren't earning over £35k then they would be sent back, but surely they wouldn't if they had a family?
The article I read also said how according to the Royal College of Nursing nearly 3,500 nurses could be sent back to their country of origin under this new legislation.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
2 Jan 16
@Darroch I do know of an American lady married to a Brit {with two children} who was made to go back to America for a month once to satisfy customs and border control. There are lots of examples of married couples being split up because they don't satisfy all the requirements. Sometimes it seems so bizarre.
1 person likes this
@Darroch (245)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
@Poppylicious That's the sort of ridiculous thing I was concerned these sort of laws could result in. I can understand the UK government being against people claiming lots of benefits, but surely if people are working and paying their taxes...
And my view is still that the £35k level is way too high. 
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
2 Jan 16
It is true that plenty of people in the UK earn less than 35K. If you have in indefinite visa, irrespective of how much you earn surely they cannot simple expel people.
I agree with your implication that everyone in the UK should have a salary of at least 35k per annum, but the Conservatives have always opposed any legislation on minimum pay so I doubt that is their logic. They intend to attach the poor, simple and easy to understand.
So glad I left the UK.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
3 Jan 16
If a person can earn 35000 pounds a year, that will be considered as a high income earner in many other countries.
I think the middle class here in Singapore is about half the amount, and yet Singapore is the most expensive city in the world.
1 person likes this
@Darroch (245)
• United Kingdom
3 Jan 16
£35k in my opinion is also a high income for the UK.
And yet the new law will send immigrants from non-EU countries back to their country of origin if they are not earning at least £35k in 5 years, even if they are claiming no benefits and paying their taxes.
Doesn't sound like people are very well paid in Singapore if middle class are only earning around £17.5k.
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
2 Jan 16
It is funny how the governments come up with their figures, same over here, it is amazing really.
I dont know what planet they are on but this might be a good thing for immigration you think? It will cut down on anyone that is under that figure from immigrating to live in the UK.
You are right tho, if that is the case, then why isnt everyone earning that?
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
2 Jan 16
@Darroch haha yep I know what you mean..well at least you might be deported, but we would be mowed down like cattle or shot.
1 person likes this
@Darroch (245)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 16
Yeah, I wouldn't mind so much even if £35k was the average income in the UK, but it's quite a bit less than that and lots of people (including us) exist on a lower income than the average. Maybe the next laws will see the UK government deporting us to whichever country they see fit to send us...
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
2 Jan 16
These people who make laws need to go to the ground and get the real situation there
1 person likes this
