So surely this means that the Government are backing it?
Not quite yet.
The
Times reported on its front
page 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.
*Best for Britain actually has some evidence of
youth mobility schemes reducing
net migration.
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,
travel,
culture, and other
business sectors all want it. The Institute
of Directors found that their members
want it. Voters,
even in constituencies
that elected a Reform UK member of parliament, 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, Tom Brufatto, at yesterday's
Select Committee:
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 to our work. We couldn't do what we do without
you.
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