Home Secretary Theresa May's staff declare her satisfied that there is no compelling reason why Dr Steve Forman should be granted leave to remain in the UK.

It is hard to imagine an example that better demonstrates the absurdity of rigidly enforcing rules designed to meet political, rather than social, ends.

Glasgow, and Scotland, have won a proverbial watch with the presence of an experienced and well-regarded musician, willing to pass on his skills to others.

Dr Forman, a percussionist, came to Scotland on a student visa to study for a PhD at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). During the subsequent seven years he has mentored and tutored undergraduates at the RCS, giving them the benefit of experience gained with the likes of Art Garfunkel, the Beach Boys and Pink Floyd.

In the course of his studies, he devised and implemented an original course in Rhythm Theory and worked out learning materials for the subject, for no financial reward. The course is in high demand. He earns a living from teaching this and other subjects at RCS. While offering this educational input he has been self-sufficient, paying taxes and claiming no benefits of any kind.

He has composed works that have been performed by a number of major Scottish orchestras and ensembles, and become a significant participant in the indigenous Scottish folk music scene. His contribution to Scottish, and UK society is considerable and has a direct impact on the skills and opportunities on offer to young musicians.

Yet he has fallen foul of new immigration rules and, without ever doing anything wrong, he is no longer deemed an asset to UK society.

The Home Office is insisting he must be paid £31,000 a year, an unrealistic salary, and one the RCS cannot pay. He therefore does not satisfy the rules brought in to ensure only the "brightest and best" can settle indefinitely in the UK. He has also failed to demonstrate that his rights, such as the need to preserve private or family life, would be breached if he is forced to leave the country.

It is certainly arguable that Dr Forman does not meet the criteria for exceptional leave to remain. But perhaps that means the criteria are wrong. When they were brought in, the-then immigration minister Damian Green insisted they were designed to be "intelligently selective" about the people allowed to stay. If that is the case, the salary rule suggests a government that knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.

It is also indicative of a government that is playing a desperate numbers game that is more about defending itself against attacks from anti-immigration party Ukip than a rational policy. At the last General Election, David Cameron pledged to reduce net migration to the UK to tens of thousands by 2015.

This was an absurd goal. Refusing the visa of a valuable member of society such as Dr Forman demonstrates the absurdity of the policy when rigidly applied.