Labour ‘could bring back EU free movement for the under-30s’ under plans for reset in relations with Brussels _ Hieuuk
Labour is said to be considering restarting EU freedom of movement for people aged under 30 as it seeks to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with Brussels.
Government officials have suggested it could be a way for the UK to ‘give ground’ as it could be a stumbling block preventing closer ties with the bloc in future.
Labour has made no secret of the fact that it wants to alter the UK/EU relationship from how it worked under the Tories.
Last month Nick Thomas-Symonds met European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic for their first face-to-face talks to ‘set the ground for further discussions’ on deepening ties.
According to the Times a reciprocal plan similar to that Britain already has with Canada and Australia, where those under 30 can live and work for three years, with a source telling the paper: ‘If we are serious about resetting relations with the EU then we need to be prepared to give them some of the things that they want.’
While there would be a youth mobility scheme, they stressed it was not a return to full freedom of movement that was cancelled by Brexit
However, a No10 source today said that such a plan was not being considered.
Sir Keir Starmer is said to have discussed a youth mobility proposal with Spanish Counterpart Pedro Sanchez when they met at the Blenheim Palace summit.
Sir Keir Starmer is said to have discussed a youth mobility proposal with Spanish Counterpart Pedro Sanchez when they met at the Blenheim Palace summit.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that Sir Keir did not reject the proposal, made to him by Mr Sanchez, and that he would mull it over.
It will raise fresh concerns about whether Sir Keir, who campaigned for a second referendum to reverse the Leave vote, will gradually unpick Brexit in his bid to ‘reset’ relations with Brussels.
Such a scheme would be likely to be popular with abroad swathe of Labour MPs and voters. It comes after London mayor Sadiq Khan this week yet again put himself at odds with the party leadership over Europe.
Mr Khan, one of the most high profile Europhiles in Labour, told the New Statesman: ‘In the medium to long term, there will need to be a conversation about whether we have a better future inside the EU or outside of it.’
That is despite Sir Keir, 61, last month saying he did not believe the UK would rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran said: ‘I urge the government to negotiate a reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU, like the one we already have with Australia, Canada, Japan and a number of other countries.
‘This would give our young people fantastic opportunities to live and work across Europe, while also providing a much-needed boost to the UK economy – especially our hospitality sector.
‘It would also be a crucial first step on the road to rebuilding the ties of trust, trade and friendship with our European neighbours that the Conservative Party damaged so terribly.’
