A bishop has spoken out against the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Home Office's ruling on foreign spouses.
Judges decided the government's rules, that Britons must earn more than £18,600 before they can bring in a partner from outside the EU, does not breach human rights legislation, last week.
But Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, the 106th Bishop of Rochester, said he was "appalled" by the decision.
In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, Rt Rev Nazir-Ali said the ruling went against "natural justice, freedom of choice and the right to family life" adding that it was unfair that EEA citzens can bring their spouses into the country without the same restrictions.
Rt Rev Nazir-Ali said the rule demonstrated that the Home Office seems to favour the rich.
"Why is such a draconian rule now necessary?" he wrote, "The answer seems to lie in the Home Office's belief that the well-off are more likely to integrate.
"This is a slur on poor people. Integration is not related to wealth but to education, employment, housing and citizenship policies."
Rt Rev Nazir-Ali added he hoped that the British public would oppose the ruling.
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