This was originally published at http://labourhub.org.uk on April 28, 2024.
A furore has broken out over the issue of reciprocally agreeing with the EU that young people can travel freely between and within the EU to work, live and love as they choose. The Financial Times and Steve Peers on X, reported that the EU Commission has sent a request to the Council for a mandate to negotiate a “youth mobility” scheme to allow British and EU under 30s to freely travel, work and study in each other’s countries.
Cynics suggest this is to hold the Union’s position together as the UK Government has already opened or attempted to open bi-lateral talks with several but not all member states, However, the Commission’s initiative has produced a negative public statement from Labour — and later by the Government, which highlights itsdisrespectful approach to British and European youth’s interests.
The BBC reported: “No 10 has rejected the offer, stating ‘free movement within the EU was ended’. The UK already runs schemes with some non-EU countries to allow people to come to the UK for up to two years.”
For the Tories, this is not about principle. They seem quite happy to pick and choose which countries’ nationals they’ll let in. Another tripping point for the Tories is that Sweden has refused because it…
