Keir Starmer did not rule out an agreement between Spain and the UK for the free movement of young people – in the latest move to spark fears that Labour is preparing to forge closer ties with the EU.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez is said to have discussed the possibility of continental youths living in Britain during private talks at Blenheim Palace earlier this month.
And Starmer is said to have agreed to consider it, The Telegraph reports – despite rejecting an EU youth mobility that was suggested by Brussels in April.
The idea has been slammed by Tory opposition, with former Home and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly – a front-running candidate to be the next Conservative leader – telling the broadsheet that it was another ‘betrayal’ by the Labour leader.
He said: ‘Labour said they wanted to bring migration down and ruled out a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU during the election. Surprise surprise, the U-turn has started already.
Starmer is said to have agreed to consider plans for a youth mobility scheme – despite rejecting an EU youth mobility that was suggested by Brussels in April
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez is said to have discussed the possibility of continental youths living in Britain during private talks at Blenheim Palace earlier this month
‘As we have already seen ministers advocating relaxing visa rules, this should not shock anybody. But the British people have been betrayed once again by Starmer.’
The plan would have enabled people between 18 and 30 to travel between the UK and the mainland to live and study – something the Tories and Labour both rejected.
They even pledged in their manifesto that there would be ‘no return’ to ‘freedom of movement’, with a spokesperson for the party adding that there were ‘no plans for a youth mobility scheme’.
But the move is said to be aligned with Labour’s key objective after winning the election – establishing economic growth.
A bilateral deal with Spain would not necessarily break their manifesto promises and the suggestion comes shortly after Germany suggested the idea could help the UK to renegotiate our Brexit deal.
The country’s ambassador, Miguel Berger, told Politico a similar scheme would be an idea that is ‘in the common interest’, and could be included in a new treaty.
The government has played down the idea, with a spokesperson telling The Telegraph: ‘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.’
A senior source added that he may just have been being polite as he met the world leader for the first time.
