British citizens' right to a family life with spouses in the UK

That this House notes that British citizens wishing to return to live in the UK with a foreign-born spouse face complex, costly visa application conditions; believes that UK citizens should have a presumed right to a family life in their own country, subject to proper checks on the bone fide nature of the spousal relationship; further believes that minimum income and asset requirements should be based on ensuring no recourse to public funds, and not to earnings levels, especially when returnees are retired, caring for elderly relatives or otherwise not entering the workforce; further notes that the UK’s ambitions for economic growth and overseas trade are damaged by British citizens facing this deterrent to going abroad to work without having an effective right to return; and calls on the Government’s current review of immigration rules to address the difficulties facing British citizens and their spouses.