Few would have imagined that in post-Brexit Britain, a young person could take a job in Japan for two years but be unable to do the same in France. Yet here we are.
The repercussions of the Conservative government’s botched Brexit deal are everywhere, and many of them will be felt most acutely by Britain’s young people. This generation – already struggling with high rents, stagnant wages, and an ever-rising cost of living – has also been robbed of a freedom so many of us took for granted, the ability to live, work, and study in Europe without the suffocating web of red tape now in place. That’s why I proposed a debate for a youth mobility scheme with Europe, and I’m asking the Labour government to back me.
I proposed a Bill that would require the government to enter negotiations with EU member states to extend the UK’s Youth Mobility Scheme on a reciprocal basis. This would allow young people aged 18-30 from both the UK and the EU to live and work in each other’s countries for a limited period, typically two years.
We already have such schemes in place with countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. They allow young people aged 18-30 to live and work abroad for a fixed period, gaining invaluable skills and cultural experiences that benefit not only them but the economy as a whole. If we can do this with Japan, why not with France, Germany, or Spain?
Growing support for a youth mobility scheme
A Youth Mobility Scheme is on the table, both from my bill domestically and from proposals by the European Commission. The government’s response to this proposal has been incredibly disappointing. They’ve dismissed it as ‘reopening freedom of movement.’ This is both untrue and a misguided approach.
Under a youth mobility scheme, visas would be time-limited, capped at two or three years, and would not provide a direct route to permanent settlement. In fact, in existing schemes with Australia and Canada, more Brits tend to take advantage of the opportunities than vice versa – meaning such schemes often result in a net migration loss, not a gain.
Even the European Commission, which previously floated a four-year stay and university fee concessions, has signalled its willingness to renegotiate to fit the UK’s preferences. Yet, still, the government refuses to budge.
And the public support the idea. 58% who responded to a recent More in Common poll said an EU youth mobility scheme was a good idea; just 10% said it was a bad idea. Even a majority of Leave voters back the idea.
What’s most baffling is that this reluctance flies in the face of the government’s supposed commitment to economic growth. Labour shortages are crippling industries such as hospitality, tourism, and the arts – exactly the types of jobs that young people on mobility visas could help fill, just as they did before Brexit.
A chance to boost our economy
Ask any business owner in tourism or hospitality, and they’ll tell you the same story. Since Brexit, staffing has become a nightmare. Many companies that once relied on a steady stream of young British workers heading to Europe – or young Europeans coming here – are now struggling.
Take European Pubs, a chain that operates across France. Before Brexit, more than 80% of its seasonal workers were British. Today, that number is down to just 50%, forcing them to cut services and raise prices. Meanwhile, UK-based travel firms that once sent young British reps to work in European resorts have seen their numbers plummet by 69% since the referendum. These are missed opportunities – for young people, for businesses, and for the economy.
This is reflected across a range of sectors. The Labour government is desperate for economic growth, but while they tinker around with the shape of local councils, they are ignoring the elephant in the room to boost growth: starting to heal the economic damage of Tory Brexit.
Rebuilding our broken relationship with Europe
The Liberal Democrats have now called for the UK to rejoin a Customs Union with the EU, a major and necessary step toward repairing our relationship with our closest trading partner. A youth mobility scheme is an important and popular step towards achieving a repaired relationship with a Customs Union.
For all the rhetoric about a ‘reset’ with Europe, this government has done little beyond issuing warm words while maintaining hardline Brexit dogma. If they are serious about cooperation, here is an opportunity to prove it. A youth mobility scheme would be a clear, mutually beneficial initiative – one that would signal Britain’s willingness to work constructively with the EU once more.
Brexit isn’t working
Let’s not pretend Brexit is working. It isn’t. It has failed businesses, failed workers, and failed young people. And yet, despite all the evidence, the government remains too stubborn to admit even the smallest of mistakes.
Before Brexit, thousands took advantage of the ability to work, study, and travel across Europe, returning home with new skills, language proficiency, and international connections that benefited both them and the UK economy. Now, that door is closed, and the consequences are all too real.
Take Alex, a 25-year-old from Taunton, who had planned to work at a German fintech start-up before returning to the UK to launch his own business. With no simple visa option available, his plans collapsed. Britain lost out on his experience, his knowledge, and his potential economic contributions. How many more young people like Alex will we fail before we fix this?
Young people did not vote for this. Many of them, in fact, were too young to vote at all in 2016. Yet, they are the ones bearing the brunt of a Brexit deal they did not choose.
It’s time to rebuild Britain’s relationship with Europe, starting with a youth mobility scheme that restores opportunity, fosters cooperation, and boosts our economy. If we are serious about the future of young people in this country, let’s allow them to explore the opportunities and culture of our nearest neighbours.
James MacCleary MP is MP for Lewes and Lib Dem Spokesperson on Europe
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