Labour not going to breach manifesto commitments on Europe – minister
Labour is not going to “breach” its manifesto commitments on freedom of movement, a Cabinet minister has said, as questions have continued over the prospect of a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed told Times Radio that ministers will also not return the UK to the single market or the customs union.
It comes as the Times newspaper reported the Home Office could be open to the idea of a “one in, one out” scheme.
Speculation
Mr Reed described the report in the Times as “speculation” and told the radio station: “We’re very clear in our manifesto that there won’t be any return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement, and that remains our position”.
He also said that it is “right” to say there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme, adding: “We’re not going to breach our manifesto commitments.”
Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto said “there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement”.
Ministers have so far resisted calls for such a scheme but it is thought that it is something the EU is looking for as Number 10 pursues a “reset” in relations after Brexit.
German ambassador to the UK Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “we would like to have this in both directions”.
Reset
Earlier this week, more than 60 Labour backbenchers urged the Government to negotiate a youth mobility scheme as part of the desired reset with the bloc.
In a letter to Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister in charge of negotiations with the EU, 62 MPs and 11 peers called for “a new and bespoke youth visa scheme” for UK and European citizens under 30.
In their letter, the MPs and peers said any youth mobility scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing arrangements with countries such as Australia and Canada, with a time limit on visas and a cap on numbers.
They said: “A bespoke scheme would extend new cultural, educational and economic opportunities to young people in the UK without returning to free movement.”
The group also called for deeper collaboration with the EU on defence and a deal on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to reduce border checks on food products, both of which are in line with Government policy, among other suggestions.
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No, let’s not do anything good. Let us concentrate on punching down on the most vulnerable in the country and make this place more miserable than it already is.
How sad that Starmer and the rest of his cowardly ministers can’t even allow a student exchange deal with the EU because they’re terrified of upsetting Brexit voters. Yet, even Canada and many non EU countries have exchange deals with the EU. This is the most timid, supine Government ever who will u turn on anything to avoid difficulty.
Any Labour MP’s looking in? Polish your CV’s.
This right here, just killed off your term 2 unless there is a fiuull and meaningful engagement to join the EU. Timescales don’t mean now, but start the talk..
‘… unless there is a full and meaningful engagement to join the EU.’ Sadly, I think that ship has sailed. Not only are the Starmerites deeply fearful of the gut response support which Brexit still has in many traditionally Labour-voting post-industrial constituencies – the prevalence of antique Victorian-era ‘rule Britannia’ sentiments in such communities being solid – but the EU is very unlikely to seriously consider any British move towards ‘rejoin’ until they come to believe that there’s a political consensus in the UK favouring rebuilding our relationships with the Union. And, manifestly, there isn’t. But I think you’re right… Read more »
Most leavers have since died while millions of youngsters that don’t yet hate humanity have become voters. The 2016 vote is woefully out of date and should not be used to inform policy.
Well, they’ve breached every other Manifesto commitment so why the hesitation?
It’s not as if anyone now believes in Starmer’s “integrity” or Labour “principles”, or it’s “platform”, they all went to landfill long long ago.
Don’t believe you…promises, commitments or sadistic cruelty and bare faced lies…take your pick.
Surely there’s a name for this: ‘Pharagephobia’!