Visas for young Brits and EU citizens under a youth mobility scheme are a “no brainer,” say London business chiefs.
BusinessLDN urged the Government to agree such an arrangement with the European Union at a crunch summit on Monday.
Mark Hilton, policy delivery director at the business group, said: “With youth mobility agreements already in place with countries including Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay, striking a similar deal with our largest trading partner should be a no-brainer.
“Giving more young people opportunities to live, work and study in the UK temporarily in a controlled way – and vice versa – would boost the economy while also delivering considerable value through cultural exchange and soft power.”
He stressed the UK already has a youth mobility scheme open to people from 13 non-EU different countries, including South Korea, Iceland, Hong Kong and Andorra.
However, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stopped short of committing the Government to agreeing a mobility scheme for 18 to 30-year-olds which is backed by some 70 Labour MPs and peers.
“Discussions are under way to that agreement on a number of topics,” she told LBC Radio.
“I’m afraid I can’t talk about specifics, there is a negotiation, it wouldn’t be right to do so... “
She stressed the Government had a “red line” about no return to freedom of movement with the EU and any youth mobility scheme could be time-limited, with visas for a few years, and capped.
Sir Keir Starmer is seeking to reset relations with the EU at the summit in London on Monday after the economic damage done to Britain from Brexit which the Office for Budget Responsibility says will last for years.
The Centre for European Reform estimates that a successful reset could boost UK GDP by 0.3 to 0.7 per cent.
Sir Keir has said he is confident of making progress on a deal with the EU at the summit which could see an agreement struck on British access to a 150 billion euro (£126.4 billion) defence fund.
But some reports have suggested disagreements over fishing rights and a youth mobility scheme have thrown the prospect of a deal into doubt.
But the Prime Minister struck a positive note on Thursday on better EU ties during a visit to Albania, which has rejected taking failed asylum seekers from Britain, stressing: “I’m confident we will make really good progress into Monday.
“If we do that we will have completed three agreements - India, US and EU - in the course of a two-week window, which is incredibly beneficial for our country.”
During the visit, Sir Keir also hit back at comments from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has threatened to oppose any agreement with the EU that did not meet her party’s five “Brexit tests”.
These include no “backsliding” on free movement or forced asylum transfers, no new money paid to the EU, no reduction in fishing rights, no role for the European Court of Justice and no “compromise on the primacy of Nato”.
Asked about Mrs Badenoch’s position, Sir Keir said it was “really hard to take her seriously” following her criticism of deals struck with both India and the US.
