Latest news with #youthmobility
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Millions of young Europeans could move to Britain under Labour's EU youth mobility scheme, experts warn
EUROPEAN youngsters could move to Britain for more than a year under Labour's new EU youth mobility scheme - fuelling fresh outrage over rising immigration. EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed the deal will mirror the UK's existing schemes with countries like Australia, which allow stays of up to two or even three years. It means thousands of 18 to 30-year-olds from the EU could soon be counted in Britain's official immigration figures, which include anyone staying more than 12 months. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to be pushing for a 12-month cap, but Brussels is demanding longer stays as part of a reciprocal arrangement. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: 'The Government openly refuses to talk about a numerical limit to this proposal. "With no limit, Labour's planned scheme would allow tens of millions of people to come to the UK. "Some European countries give citizenship to illegal immigrants within just a year of getting asylum. "Without proper controls, this proposal will throw our borders wide open.' Reform MP Lee Anderson added "Immigration is a top concern for voters, yet Labour continues to keep the doors wide open. 'There is no question, the population explosion has done this country great damage. "Labour should focus on our endless problems at home before pandering to the needs of all foreigners." Mr Thomas-Symonds told The Times it will not be a return to freedom movement, but refused to rule out a multi-year scheme and said it will be 'in the context' of the UK's 13 existing youth mobility arrangements. Man believed to be running meet and greet service arrested in dawn raid as part of Channel crackdown 1
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey could benefit from UK-EU Brexit reset on youth mobility
Guernsey could benefit from a youth mobility scheme under a new UK government deal with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said as part of a "reset" with the EU post-Brexit there could be a "reciprocal" arrangement in which young people would be able to move abroad for up to two her first speech to the States, President of Policy and Resources Lindsay de Sausmarez said Guernsey officials had been speaking with UK counterparts. As part of the new UK-EU relationship de Sausmarez said: "This could give young people more opportunities to experience living and working in Europe for a time." Prior to Brexit, young people in the Bailiwick of Guernsey had the right to travel and study freely, without a visa, in the rest of Europe and vice versa under an arrangement called Protocol 3. A new deal could see a return to a similar state of affairs. 'More goods from France' De Sausmarez told deputies any new arrangement would not mean any change to fishing rights, as those are settled. However she said there could be changes to border controls for goods."It could provide a good opportunity to diversify our imports and bring in more goods from France," she said."In doing so it could increase our food security, reduce our carbon footprint, and improve affordability as well."She went on to explain where she thought the other advantages of the new UK-EU relationship may fall. "We could see benefits. Our young people could access the proposed youth mobility scheme, the Erasmus scheme could also give our young people opportunities in training and learning," she added.
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
