But the hope was that within those rather restrictive limits, laid down to insulate Labour from criticism it is defying the 2016 referendum result, the maximum could be achieved. Instead, since entering office, Starmer’s political strait-jacket has seemed to get only tighter.
A casual public statement earlier in 2024 that Labour had “no plans” for a youth mobility scheme evolved into an “extremely negative” take on the policy in meetings behind the scenes, the EU diplomat said.
EU officials were so baffled by senior Labour figures’ negative reaction to the idea — which would see 18-30 year olds given affordable visas to live abroad for up to four years — that they thought there must be “some degree of confusion” over the proposal at the British end.
When pushed in public on the youth mobility scheme Starmer has likened the idea to a return to freedom of movement, which he is against. But aware that the Labour leader is cautious of signing up to anything that could bolster the pro-Brexit, anti-immigration Reform party —which has seen support surge in Labour’s traditional heartlands — European capitals are now revisiting the Commission’s plan in the hope they can hash out something the British PM might agree to.
A U.K. government spokesperson told POLITICO: “We’ve had very positive engagement in our early conversations as we work to reset the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties, secure a broad-based security pact and tackle barriers to trade.”
What Brussels wants
Indeed, Starmer also has other priorities and manifesto commitments of his own which would bring the U.K. closer to the EU. He wants a veterinary deal to reduce border bureaucracy at the border at Dover, mutual recognition of professional qualifications to help Britain’s vaunted services sector do business abroad, and fewer restrictions on U.K. artists touring the continent.