Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signaled a potential youth mobility scheme as part of a new UK-EU agreement, a significant step toward post-Brexit relations.

Speaking to The Times before a crucial Monday summit, he emphasized this wouldn’t reinstate pre-Brexit free movement. The proposed scheme, he clarified, would be reciprocal, allowing young people to live and work abroad for up to two years.

Details remain scarce, notably regarding age limits and potential quotas. This has prompted criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who called it “free movement through the back door,” a sentiment echoed by Reform UK.

Sir Keir countered that Labour’s manifesto explicitly rejects full free movement, differentiating this initiative from it. An agreement, though anticipated at Monday’s Lancaster House summit, is expected to be an outline rather than a finalized deal, according to BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.

Reportedly, the EU favors longer stays (up to four years), while the UK is considering one to two. Sir Keir framed this potential agreement as beneficial to jobs, household finances, and border security.

Pre-Brexit, young people enjoyed visa-free travel and study across Europe. This agreement could partially restore that. The PM cited existing UK reciprocal youth mobility schemes (YMS) with countries such as Australia as a model. Current UK YMS visas for select non-EU countries involve quotas and ballots.

The previous Conservative government rejected a similar EU offer in 2023, and Labour initially dismissed such a scheme. However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Liberal Democrats voiced their support, highlighting potential economic benefits particularly for London’s struggling sectors.

UK European relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed the government’s consideration of a YMS, contingent on respecting established red lines. While re-joining the Erasmus program isn’t currently planned, the government remains open to discussions, he stated.

Recent BBC reporting highlights Brexit’s negative impact on UK higher education, including increased tuition fees for EU students.

Beyond youth mobility, Monday’s discussions will likely include fishing rights. Sir Keir positioned the talks as vital for improving British citizens’ economic well-being, emphasizing their impact on jobs, living standards, and community prosperity as the key measure of success.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signaled strong support for a potential youth mobility scheme as part of a new UK-EU agreement, suggesting this wouldn’t reinstate pre-Brexit freedom of movement.

In an interview with The Times, ahead of a crucial Monday summit, Starmer emphasized the scheme’s reciprocal nature, allowing young people to live abroad for up to two years. Details regarding age limits and participant caps remain unspecified.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the proposal as “free movement through the back door,” a sentiment echoed by Reform UK’s Richard Tice. Starmer countered that Labour’s manifesto contains a “red line” against freedom of movement, and that a youth mobility scheme is distinct from this.

While an agreement is anticipated at Monday’s Lancaster House summit, the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg reports it will be an agreement in principle, not a finalized deal. Reportedly, the EU favors longer stays (up to four years), while the UK is considering a maximum of one or two.

In recent comments, Sir Keir described a strengthened UK-EU partnership as beneficial for jobs, finances, and border security. He drew parallels to existing reciprocal youth mobility schemes with countries like Australia.

The UK currently offers such visas to citizens from 12 non-EU nations, with varying quotas and lottery systems. Last year, the previous Conservative government rejected a similar EU proposal post-Brexit.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged the government for clarity, highlighting the scheme’s potential economic benefits, particularly for London’s hospitality, creative, and healthcare sectors. The Liberal Democrats also voiced their support.

UK European relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed the government’s consideration of a youth mobility scheme, contingent upon adhering to established red lines. While re-joining the Erasmus program isn’t currently planned, the government remains open to EU proposals.

Recent BBC reports highlight Brexit’s negative impact on UK university attractiveness to EU students due to increased fees and loan ineligibility.

Beyond youth mobility, Monday’s summit will address issues like fishing rights. Sir Keir emphasized the summit’s significance for improving British citizens’ lives, stating that the scheme’s success will be measured by its impact on their well-being and economic prospects.