TORIES PLAN TO CHANGE MARRIAGE RULES
(25 May 2007)

The Conservatives announced proposed policies to stop very young brides or husbands being brought to this country from overseas. The Shadow Immigration Minister, Damian Green, today unveiled a three point plan designed to stop young people being brought to this country who cannot easily integrate with British Society. He also announced three other proposals on which the Conservative Party will be consulting. These proposals will apply to all non-European Union citizens.

The three definite policy proposals are:

1. Raising the age limit of potential spouses and sponsors to 21.
2. Introducing an English test for spouses, to the level of ESOL Entry Level 3.
3. Developing a ‘code of conduct’ for Entry Clearance Officers and Home Office officials in the UK, which includes separate interviews of the spouse and the sponsor.

The measures for consultation are:

1. Introducing the ‘Life in the UK’ citizenship test for spouses.
2. A prerequisite declaration of intention to marry abroad.
3. A time requirement before those who have been previously married to a spouse from overseas are allowed to bring in another spouse from overseas.

Commenting, Damian Green, said: “Too many young women are brought to England to marry when they cannot possibly integrate with our society. They need better protection. It is not fair on them, and it is not good their integration into this country. Families where English is not spoken are much more likely to have children who struggle at school, and adults who cannot engage in work.

“For ten years this Government has done nothing to stop this abuse. We are proposing practical measures which will mean that only adults can come to this country to be married, and only those whose command of English allows them to play a full part in British life will be able to come to stay.”