Latest news with #youthmobility
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Starmer's surrender on youth travel: PM's new EU deal 'could throw borders open' in scheme that is effectively 'unlimited'
Keir Starmer could throw open Britain's borders to the European Union with a youth mobility scheme that is effectively 'unlimited'. Sources close to talks on the scheme said British negotiators will try to cap EU arrivals allowed to work in Britain at between 70,000 and 80,000, and no higher than 100,000. But a sliding-scale could be introduced that would effectively allow unlimited arrivals if enough Britons head for the Continent. One source explained: 'If you suddenly find 500,000 Britons go to Europe, then Britain could open it up to a much larger number of Europeans, so you keep it neutral on immigration figures.' Another said it could 'essentially be unlimited' if there was enough demand from UK travellers. British negotiators will seek a cap based on the number of Britons ministers think will use the scheme, while the sliding scale would satisfy EU negotiators, who are expected to push for hundreds of thousands of Europeans to be able to enter Britain. But this would be politically toxic for a Labour government that has pledged to cut immigration if at least as many Britons do not go in the opposite direction. Brussels is also pushing for Europeans to be allowed to bring their families and claim benefits in the UK as part of the scheme. It is one of the most contentious areas yet to be fully negotiated for the Prime Minister's controversial 'reset' deal with the bloc, which was unveiled on Monday. Sir Keir has said that the numbers involved would be capped and insisted that their stay in the UK would be 'time limited' and reliant on obtaining a visa. But he has refused to say how many could come or how long they could stay for. No10 insists letting arrivals bring dependants and claim benefits is a 'red line', but Brussels is expected to drive a hard bargain because most EU nations want this concession. Fears of a cave-in will only be heightened by the fact that ministers spent months insisting they had 'no plans' for a youth mobility scheme, which was a key EU demand from the outset.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EU demands half a MILLION young Europeans are allowed into Britain under Keir Starmer's 'youth free movement' scheme
Brussels is demanding that as many as half a million young EU citizens are allowed to live in Britain under Keir Starmer 's post-Brexit EU deal. The Prime Minister has agreed in principle a 'youth experience scheme' that would allow adults aged up to 30 to come to the UK to work and study. Ministers want the scheme, which is reciprocal for UK citizens wishing to go to the continent, capped below 100,000. But an EU official last night suggested it would want the scheme to be similar in scale to the one Britain has with Australia. However, given the EU's population is 450million, compared to Australia's 26million, it raises the prospect of allowing in 500,000 from the continent. The Brussels official told the Times: 'Are Australians better than Europeans? If the same model applies, then the numbers would have to be much higher or it would be hurtful. 'What is the British problem with our young people, our children?' Much a figure would trigger a massive new immigration row, with Sir Keir facing demands to bring down net migration figures that rose out of control under the previous Tory government. As part of his Brexit 'reset' deal, Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to continue talks with Brussels on the 'youth experience' scheme. EU member states had demanded a youth mobility scheme in exchange for the Prime Minister's desire for closer post-Brexit defence and trade ties with the bloc. Following Monday's UK-EU summit in London, it was announced that both sides would 'co-operate further' on establishing such a scheme. But Downing Street last night insisted the Government had set a series of 'red lines' for those continuing discussions. These include EU migrants not being able to bring dependents or claim benefits under the proposed scheme, while they must pay to use the NHS. No10 also stressed there would be a cap on the number of youth visas that would be issued to EU nationals. It has previously been reported that Germany, Poland and Romania are particularly concerned about EU migrants in Britain having to pay healthcare charges. Downing Street declined to say when a youth mobility scheme with the EU might be finalised. 'We'll now be working with the EU on the details and we'll provide an update on that in due course,' Sir Keir's spokesman added. He also stressed that an EU scheme would 'mirror' the existing youth mobility schemes the UK has with other countries. Britain currently has such schemes with Andorra, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino, Taiwan, and Uruguay. Under the UK's youth mobility scheme with Australia, applicants must have £2,530 in savings, pay a £298 application fee, and stump up £776 per year to use the NHS. Those aged 18 to 35 from Australia can apply for a youth mobility visa to live and work in the UK for up to two years, with the possibility for a one-year extension. For this year, the number of youth visas is capped at 42,000 for Australians, 10,000 for Canadians, 9,500 for New Zealanders, and 6,000 for those from Japan. But the actual number of visas granted is much less, with just over 24,000 youth mobility visas issued by the UK across all 13 schemes in 2024.
Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Labour want EU youth mobility scheme to be capped at 100,000
Britain is seeking to cap the number of people allowed to live and work in the UK under an EU youth mobility scheme at fewer than 100,000, setting up months of wrangling with Brussels. EU negotiators are expected to push for hundreds of thousands of European young people to be eligible, a figure which would be politically toxic for a Labour government pledging to cut immigration. Sir Keir Starmer insisted that the scheme would be 'good for young people both here and in Europe', dismissing concerns that it would bring back freedom of movement and saying that he was 'proud' of the opportunity it offered. • The winners and losers of the UK-EU post-Brexit deal The prime minister was challenged by Labour MPs from the
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Fears ‘weak' Starmer will allow EU migrants to bring FAMILIES into UK on youth visas after Brexit betrayal
BRUSSELS will push Sir Keir Starmer into accepting fresh demands on the proposed youth mobility scheme, critics fear. Eurocrats are calling for relatives to be allowed to travel here with under-35s from EU countries eligible to work, study and live in the UK. 4 4 Concerns are being raised the PM could cave in on the issue after he was ambushed for a 12-year demand over fishing rights. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: 'The stench of weakness from Keir Starmer has been seized upon by Brussels and it's no surprised they have come back for more concessions.' Ex-Cabinet Minister Esther McVey said the deal would be bad for the job prospects of young Brits in this country. She said: 'Starmer's surrender deal will be bad for young Brits Under Labour UK youth unemployment is up to 14.2% & job vacancies are down - across Europe, Spain, France, Portugal etc it's worse 'His youth mobility scheme will push Europe's young unemployed here.' Downing Street hit back at calls for relatives to come here — saying it would be a red line as part of any talks outlining they would not be allowed access to benefits. A spokesman said any scheme would have to mirror similar ones already set up with 30 countries, including Australia, but are capped and time limited. Labour MP Jo White said any such scheme must benefit all Brits rather than just being for 'middle class kids on their gap year'. Meanwhile, 29 per cent of Brits see the new pact with the EU signed on Monday by the PM as being good for the country while 26 per cent see it as bad. Half of Labour voters have a positive view of the deal, which falls to 14 per cent for Tory supporters but only five per cent of Reform UK voters. 'Sell-out' Starmer has betrayed Brexit – he should follow in Trump's footsteps instead 4 4
Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Times
The unanswered questions in the UK-EU deal explained
Sir Keir Starmer's much vaunted reset with the European Union was broad in ambition but light on detail and many of the crucial issues and trade-offs have been put off until another day. So what are the unanswered questions in the new Brexit deal? The agreement commits both sides to setting up a 'balanced' youth experience programme that would allow young Britons to work, study or travel for a 'limited period of time' in EU countries, and Europeans to do the same in Britain. But there are no details on how many people would be eligible for the scheme and how long they would be able to stay. This is likely to prove tricky to negotiate. The UK's Australia youth mobility scheme is capped at
