EU youth mobility: ‘Westminster parties determined to limit young people’s horizons’

Liz Saville Roberts MP criticises Sunak and Starmer’s rejection of EU offer

Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, has today (Friday 19 April 2024) accused the Conservatives and Labour of being “determined to limit young people’s horizons”.

On Thursday, the European Commission offered to strike a deal to allow 18-30-year-old UK citizens to work and study in the bloc for up to four years.

Rishi Sunak officially rejected the offer on Friday, with a spokesperson saying, “We are not introducing an EU-wide youth mobility scheme – free movement within the EU was ended and there are no plans to introduce it.”

Keir Starmer has also rejected the proposal, with a spokesperson saying on Thursday that "Labour has no plans for a youth mobility scheme”, and restating the party’s red lines of “no return to the single market, customs union or free movement."

Last June, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth proposed a five-point plan to pave the way for a closer relationship with the EU, including negotiating youth mobility schemes, rejoining Erasmus, and preparing to rejoin the single market.

Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“Both Westminster parties are determined to limit young people’s horizons.

“The Tories and Labour have both officially rejected an offer by the EU for young people to be able to live, work or study across Europe for up to four years. Out-of-hand rejection displays the shortsightedness of both parties.

“Plaid Cymru would restore opportunities ripped away from our young people. It would be in everyone’s interests for the UK to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU and rejoin Erasmus as a full member.

“Young people in Wales are outward-looking. They did not vote for Brexit - indeed many were denied a vote. They shouldn’t suffer due to the poor decisions of politicians in Westminster.”