It's unanimous! Every constituency in Great Britain backs a Youth Mobility Scheme... even Clacton.

John, have you heard?

Best for Britain's latest mega-poll, conducted by YouGov, shows that two thirds of people are in favour of the Government agreeing a Youth Mobility Scheme with the EU. We didn't find a single constituency where it wasn't popular with a majority of people.

Even in Nigel Farage's seat of Clacton twice as many people are in favour of it (52%) as are against it (only 25%).

The Independent <[link removed]> carried our research as an exclusive in the UK, <[link removed]> with The Herald <[link removed]> reporting the Scotland-wide results <[link removed]>.

<[link removed]>Read the full analysis <[link removed]>So surely this means that the Government are backing it?

Not quite yet.

The Times <[link removed]> reported on its front page <[link removed]> that the Government was considering the scheme. But since then there have been differing reports.

It seems that some opposition within Government comes from the Home Office, who denied there were current plans (although that is often Westminster speak for 'maybe in the future'), owing to concerns about net migration*. You can read more in Labour List <[link removed]>.

*Best for Britain actually has some evidence <[link removed]> of youth mobility schemes reducing net migration <[link removed]>.

If that sounds a bit confusing to you, you're right.

If we're being generous, this is perhaps to be expected. Showing your hand completely ahead of a negotiation is never wise. (Just look at how badly Trump is handling his discussions with Russia.) And the 24-hour news cycle is always going to hang far too much on even the tiniest statement ahead of, and probably during, the reset of our relationship with Europe.

Being far less generous, it's disappointing that a universally popular policy, that delivers opportunities for the next generation of British citizens, might be politicised to such an extent that plain facts and necessity are being ignored.

How feasible is all this?

The hospitality <[link removed]>, travel <[link removed]>, culture, and other business <[link removed]> sectors all want it. The Institute of Directors <[link removed]> found that their members want it <[link removed]>. Voters <[link removed]>, even in constituencies that elected a Reform UK member of parliament <[link removed]>, want it. And the European Union has put the idea on the table.

This should of course be a no brainer.

Reform UK - never usually ones to miss an opportunity to bash Europe - have so far declined to comment.

And even Lord Hannan - the brains behind Vote Leave - is being remarkably reasonable on many of the proposals. You can watch our Executive Director of Policy <[link removed]>, Tom Brufatto, at yesterday's Select Committee: 

<[link removed]>

Is this freedom of movement or not?

Eurosceptic commentators conflate a Youth Mobility Scheme with freedom of movement to scare off any attempt to get it agreed. They know they are wrong - they just want to reawaken the old battles of Brexit. Don't help them do that. If anyone asks you if this is a return to freedom of movement, you must tell them that it categorically is not - even if you would like freedom of movement yourself.

This isn't the freedom of movement that so many want to see again. But, that is also what makes this possible politically. A Youth Mobility Scheme is safely within Keir Starmer's 'red lines'.

I know how frustrating it is to have your right to live and work across Europe taken away. But every year that our youngest citizens haven't had this right has created another generation of people who will never feel that pull back to the heart of Europe. If we don’t begin mending this tear in the bond between young Brits and their continental counterparts soon, it might never be fixed.

What is Best for Britain doing now, and how can I help?

In the coming days we'll be asking you to send this, and other research, to your local MP that shows the results for your town or city.

Best for Britain's political affairs team is engaging with businesses, regional mayors, politicians in the UK and across Europe, to help them make their views on a Youth Mobility Scheme known to Ministers.

Make sure you keep an eye on your inbox - we'll be in touch when it's time to send your MP an email.

And if all of this sounds important to you, please consider making a regular donation <[link removed]> to our work. We couldn't do what we do without you.

<[link removed]>Become a regular supporter from £3/month <[link removed]>I'd like to sign off by offering my sincerest thanks for all that you have done, and continue to do for this cause.


Cal



Cal Roscow
Director of Campaigns





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