Blair backs freedom of movement for young people from EU
Sir Tony Blair has backed the free movement of young people from the EU to the UK, piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to agree a deal.
The former prime minister said he was in favour of a scheme that would allow young people to live and work in the UK, as part of a reset of Britain’s relationship with the EU.
Labour has repeatedly insisted that it has “no plans” to agree a youth mobility scheme that could give young citizens of EU member states the right to work in the UK for the first time since Brexit.
But there has been mounting speculation since The Telegraph revealed that Sir Keir discussed a free movement deal for young people with Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, in private talks at Blenheim Palace in July.
Speaking to Lord Hague in The Story podcast, Sir Tony said: “We do need to fix the European relationship, of that I’m absolutely sure because in the future, Britain’s got to be part of the political relationships on its own continent.”
He added: “But I expect that what [the Labour Party] will do is try and work out, because this will all come to specifics in the end, specifics around trade, around things like the youth mobility scheme, which personally I would be in favour of.”
The UK already has a youth mobility scheme visa that allows people from 10 countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada to study or work here for up to two years.
While EU nations are not part of the scheme, the question of whether a post-Brexit deal can be struck has risen up the political agenda.
In April, the European Commission offered a pact that would make it easier for British people aged 18 to 30 to live and study in the EU and vice versa.
The Tory government at the time rejected the offer, as did Labour. A spokesman said there were “no plans for a youth mobility scheme” and the Labour manifesto promised “no return” to “freedom of movement”.
A bilateral deal with Spain would not strictly break that manifesto promise, even if it did allow the free movement of young people between the two countries. Such deals could help Labour deliver improved economic growth, said to be the party’s top priority in office.
A Government spokesman played down the idea, saying: “We have been clear that we won’t rejoin the single market, customs union or reintroduce freedom of movement, and we are not considering a youth mobility scheme.”
Germany’s ambassador to the UK suggested in July that relaxing border rules for younger people would help Sir Keir renegotiate the UK’s post-Brexit deal.
Miguel Berger told Politico that a new treaty should include “areas which are in the common interest” such as “a youth mobility scheme”.