Labour has refused to say whether it would repeal the Government’s planned changes to spousal visas, which would prevent British citizens earning less than £38,700 from bringing their partner to the UK.
The party said it had “real concerns” about the policy and has called for greater scrutiny of the impact it would have.
The rule changes, due to be implemented in the new year, would ban most people in Britain from being able to bring their children, a husband, wife or partner to live with them.
Only those earning £38,700 or more will be entitled to sponsor dependants – including children and elderly parents as well as partners – to get a visa.
Labour has called for the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to give the policy closer scrutiny and has queried whether it could lead to a flurry of dependants moving to the UK in the months before it is implemented.
Asked if the policy was right “in principle”, a Labour spokesman said: “On the family visas, no we have real concerns about this policy.
“The Government’s own figures seem to show it would only lead to a relatively small reduction in numbers, but it is clear that it would have a significant impact on families and couples who are affected, and it looks like it would punish those who fall in love with someone from another country if they don’t earn almost 40k a year.”
He added: “Of course there has to be a sensible approach to setting income thresholds for those joining families here in the UK – but major changes should be informed by proper evidence and scrutiny and we haven’t had that in this case and that’s what we will be wanting to see come forward.
“We want to see what the evidence for it is, we want to see what the impact assessment is.”
The spokesman said that Labour was not committing to reverse the policy before knowing the impact it could have.
Labour sources said the party refrained from stating whether it would repeal policies before they have been implemented.
However, they hinted it would be reversed by a Labour government should the party’s concerns be proven correct.
Home Secretary James Cleverly has argued the policy will “ensure that people only bring dependants who they can support financially”.
Currently the minimum salary level is less than half the proposed one, at £18,600.
Under the new policy, people earning less than the £38,700 threshold will be able to apply for an exemption under certain circumstances if they are a UK or Irish citizen, or have settled status under the post-Brexit arrangements for EU nationals.
No10 also stressed that partners who are not able to come on a dependant visa could apply for the right to live and work in the UK using other means.