The real danger of EU youth mobility isn’t immigration, it’s that our young will flee

Young Brits may be easily woo-ed by a new freedom of movement deal with the European Union
Young Brits may be easily woo-ed by a new freedom of movement deal with the European Union - Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty

The idea of Britain joining the EU’s youth mobility scheme has, according to YouGov last year, majority support in every age bracket. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 77 per cent of 18-24 year olds back a reciprocal arrangement whereby under 30s could live, work or study in the EU, but so do 64 per cent of the over 65s.

Most objections to the scheme focus on the failure of successive governments, and the last few in particular, to get a grip on inward migration to the UK. The idea of flinging the doors open even wider, especially to something which sounds a lot like free movement, isn’t an easy sell.

But perhaps the real reason to caution against the scheme isn’t that too many would come, but that too many would leave.

In 2023, YouGov found that a shocking 43 per cent of 18-24 year olds think they would do better in life if they moved abroad (it’s probably even higher now). And it’s easy to see why – adulthood in Britain is an increasingly miserable prospect.

Put yourself in the shoes of a new graduate, working in a corporate job that has a flexible hybrid working policy. You could stay living in your parents’ back bedroom or you could jet off to Portugal and enjoy tax breaks of up to 100 per cent.

The same goes for entrepreneurial 20-somethings keen to make their own fortunes away from the corporate rat race. You’ll soon come up against high taxes and absurd tax cliff edges, bonkers employment regulations and an all-pervading anti-enterprise attitude. And if you do succeed, grow your business, and want to pass it on, think again. Rachel Reeves is determined to make that even more difficult than it already is now.

Don’t even think about buying a house. In 2022-23 only 39 per cent of 25-34 year olds owned their own home, down from 59 per cent in 2000. In 2005, the average house price was just over £150,000, now it’s over £280,000. Rents have skyrocketed to boot, meaning saving for the all-important first deposit is more difficult than ever.

Even if you manage to overcome this hurdle (no doubt with a little help from the bank of Mum and Dad) and want to start a family, you’ll be facing some of the most expensive childcare in the Western world. There’s little respite when the kids are old enough to send to school: if you’re planning to go independent, you’ll be paying through the nose for what few places remain available to those even on an upper-middle-class salary. 

Throughout all of this, Britain has been getting older and greyer. By the end of 2026, the UK will have more people aged 65+ than under 18 for the first time in its history. Today’s young people will be working and paying tax to prop up the pensions and healthcare costs of an ageing population, with each worker carrying the cost of several older citizens.

On and on it goes. European countries in particular are facing many of the same demographic challenges as Britain but, instead of closing their eyes and hoping it goes away, are at least prioritising policies to attract productive workers. There is fierce international competition for the very best and brightest our governments have claimed to be attracting while alienating home-grown talent.

Keir Starmer’s biggest challenge is not improving relations with our European neighbours, it is improving Britain to the point where a generation won’t be tempted overseas by slightly cheaper rent, a targeted tax break, and a bit of sunshine. Would anybody really blame them for fleeing a leaky ship?