Starmer opens door to youth free movement deal with Spain

10 comments

1. Article text –

   Sir Keir Starmer discussed a free movement deal for young people with the Spanish prime minister earlier this month, The Telegraph can reveal.

   Pedro Sánchez made the case for a UK-Spain agreement allowing Spanish young people to live in the UK in private talks with the Prime Minister at Blenheim Palace on July 18. Sir Keir is understood not to have rejected the proposal and said he would consider it, along with other discussion points.

   His private openness to the idea is in contrast with his public position in April, when Labour rejected an EU-wide youth mobility deal floated by Brussels.

   The discussions have fuelled concerns over concessions the Prime Minister is prepared to give the EU in his drive to reset relations with Europe with James Cleverly, the shadow home secretary, accusing Sir Keir of a “U-turn”.

   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 last week 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”.

   However, the Government would have to navigate the backlash from some Brexiteers who oppose any closer ties with the EU.

2. What about my freedom of movement? You know, the one stolen by Brexit. I’m glad young people won’t be frozen out of a relationship with Europe, but give me mine back too!

3. Why would Spain be happy with this? They’re hemorrhaging young people

4. Good. Then hopefully they can do the same with oldies and we can resume friction free retirements to our dream villas in Spain like a good chunk of the Brexit voting Boomers enjoyed before pulling the ladder up.

   I’m desperate to live somewhere sunnier than Britain when I retire and I’d prefer not to faff about returning here 6 months a year, or jumping through financial hoops to get a permanent visa.

5. Disgusting that he’s undermining the 2016 independence vote.

6. Piecemeal deals with individual nations is surely not as good as a deal with the EU.

7. Excellent, hopefully step one into building better trade deals with the EU and potentially opening the door to rejoining the single market which we should never have left to start with…

8. The idea that the UK is going to get a single country deal with any country in the EU is just a non-starter

9. Interesting if we could strike bespoke deals with select EU countries instead of the full bloc

   Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands all come to mind

10. Unpicking the fabric of Brexit on step at a time. Good news!