This isn't a "brexit rule" and it's disgusting for The Guardian to frame it that way as using someone's suffering to make a point about Brexit.
I know this could be a "if we were still in the EU this wouldn't happen" thing, or dismissed as another "brexit and it's consequences" article, but this shouldn't happen at all- EU citizen or non EU citizen. The fact the guy is an EU citizen is entirely irrelevant.
Having a salary requirement on a spouse visa is extremely extremely idiotic, stupid, disgusting and an abuse of human rights, specifically article 8. Apparently even Japan is less strict for foreign spouses- and that country is notoriously difficult to migrate to.
I do not know how more people aren't talking about this. It's essentially a punishment for daring to fall in love with someone who isn't British/Irish
"Love is love" until you dare fall in love with someone of the wrong nationality, it seems.