Politics LIVE: EU ignores Starmer’s objections and pushes forward with bid on youth free movement deal
The EU has dismissed Sir Keir Starmer’s concerns as Brussels announced it is pressing ahead with its bid for a deal on free movement.
Last month, Starmer said he “will not be considering” a youth mobility scheme, which would allow under-30s to study, work and travel across the European Union for up to two years.
However, official documents show the European Council has tabled a discussion on the issue on Friday in a blow to Starmer’s government.
While the EU has floated the idea informally before, it has never been formally proposed.
It comes as ministers in Westminster and Brussels are under pressure to introduce the scheme, which would mirror existing arrangements the UK has with 13 countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Chair of the pro-EU European Movement Mike Galsworthy told The Independent: “[The PM] cannot keep saying ‘no’ to reality forever.
“It makes it all the more bizarre a position to maintain when the UK public overwhelmingly back the principle and it would clearly do a power of good. Furthermore, the EU has never negotiated such a youth mobility scheme before, so Starmer has carte blanche to approach it in a way that is bespoke for Britain.
“Refusing even to look a gift horse in the mouth at this stage would seem short of acting in good faith.”
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