Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has indicated a potential youth mobility scheme could become part of a new agreement between the UK and the European Union (EU), marking a significant development in post-Brexit relations. In an interview with the Times prior to an important summit scheduled for Monday, Starmer emphasized that such a scheme would not equate to a return to pre-Brexit freedom of movement. Instead, he described it as a "reciprocal" arrangement allowing young people to live and work abroad for up to two years. However, details about age eligibility and potential caps on the number of participants remain undisclosed.
The proposal has stirred controversy, with critics arguing that it resembles a reintroduction of free movement. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch characterized the proposal as potentially reintroducing "free movement through the back door," expressing concern about uncapped migration. Her sentiments were echoed by Reform UK, whose deputy leader Richard Tice described the scheme as the beginning of a return to EU free movement policies. Starmer, however, firmly denied these accusations, reiterating that Labour's manifesto contains a "red line" against freedom of movement and emphasizing that youth mobility is distinct from such policies.
Monday’s summit, to be held at Lancaster House in London, is expected to announce an agreement in principle regarding the youth mobility scheme. According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, this agreement will not yet be final. The EU is reportedly advocating for stays as long as four years, whereas the UK is considering a limit of one to two years. Before Brexit, young people from the UK enjoyed the freedom to travel, study, and work within Europe without needing visas, a freedom that could be partially restored under a new deal.
Starmer highlighted existing youth mobility schemes (YMS) with countries like Australia, where individuals aged 18 to 35 can work in each other's countries. Currently, the UK offers similar visas to young people from 12 non-EU countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Uruguay, allowing them to study or work in the UK for up to two years. For citizens from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, there is an option to extend their stay for an additional year. These visas are subject to annual quotas, ranging from 100 visas for Andorra to 42,000 for Australia, with ballots held if applications exceed the available slots.
The previous Conservative government had rejected an EU offer that would have facilitated easier movement for individuals aged 18 to 30 to study and work across Europe post-Brexit. At that time, Labour stated it had no plans to adopt a youth mobility scheme if it won the general election. However, the current political landscape seems more favorable for such a proposal. London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticized the government for sending "mixed messages" and expressed his support for a youth mobility scheme, which he believes could significantly benefit London’s economy by addressing labor shortages in sectors such as hospitality, creative industries, and healthcare.
The Liberal Democrats also support the idea of a youth mobility scheme, with Europe spokesperson James MacCleary describing it as a "welcome step in the right direction." MacCleary commented that this development offers hope for young people negatively impacted by Brexit, urging the government to follow through on the proposal.
The UK’s European relations minister, Nick Thomas-Symonds, confirmed the government's consideration of a youth mobility scheme as part of a new partnership agreement with the EU. Speaking to the Financial Times, he stated that a "smart, controlled youth mobility scheme" could benefit young people, provided that the government’s red lines are respected. On the topic of rejoining the Erasmus student scheme, Thomas-Symonds noted that there are no current plans to do so but maintained that the government remains open to "sensible proposals" from the EU.
Brexit has made the UK a less attractive destination for European students, as highlighted by universities and students interviewed by the BBC. Since August 2021, new EU students have faced international fees and are ineligible for tuition fee loans, which has deterred many from studying in the UK. In addition to youth mobility, other issues like fishing rights are anticipated to be on the agenda for Monday’s meeting, marking the first such discussion since Brexit.
Sir Keir Starmer described the upcoming talks as a "really significant moment" for the UK, expressing hope that they would lead to greater prosperity for British citizens. He emphasized the importance of focusing on future benefits,