Labour is accused of plotting a “Brexit betrayal” by preparing to sign up to a youth mobility scheme with the European Union. Brexiteers fear the Government is “selling us out” and the scheme will be a “foot in the door” for the return of freedom of movement.
EU leaders will converge on London for a summit on May 19 and European relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has confirmed the Government is looking at a deal that would allow young people from member states to come to the UK and vice versa.
Mr Thomas-Symonds told the Financial Times a “smart, controlled youth mobility scheme would of course have benefits for our young people”.
David Campbell Bannerman, a former MEP and ex-deputy leader of UKIP who now chairs the Conservative Democratic Organisation, warned: “An EU mobility scheme has been pushed by the EU, not the UK – we gain little benefit. This is all part of a planned charade leading up to the unnecessary and damaging reset.
“It is a Brexit betrayal and takes us back to EU free movement. Don’t forget, another 10 countries aim to join the EU – mostly poorer ones – who could then exploit this scheme and push up the numbers to the UK.
“This is a foot in the door for free movement which the British people so decisively rejected in the referendum. Labour are selling us out because they don’t believe in Brexit.”
Mr Thomas-Symonds pointed out that Britain has mobility schemes with Australia and Uruguay, saying: “Nobody is suggesting any of those scheme, smart and controlled, are about freedom of movement.”
And when asked if he feared a backlash from Reform UK and the Conservatives, he said: “This is a package for which we have a strong mandate from the British people. We need to move on from the debates of the past – this is forward-looking.
“It’s where the European continent is in the mid-2020s, not where it was in 2016.”
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is pushing for a “balanced youth mobility scheme between the UK and EU, covering school visits and exchanges, and a time-limited ability to work for young people”.
But John Longworth, a former director-general of the BCC who now chairs the Independent Business Network, warned that “allowing mobility for youth is to open the flood gates to immigration”.
Brexiteers will also be appalled if the Government commits to mirror UK standards on food and animal welfare.
Mr Thomas-Symonds said the Government is “not interested” in a “race to the bottom on standards”.
When asked if a youth mobility scheme will be time-limited and whether numbers will be capped, he said: “We will consider sensible EU proposals in this space.”