Under-30s should be allowed to travel freely between the UK and the European Union within 12 months, Sir Ed Davey has told GB News.
The Liberal Democrat leader also said that he did not consider concern about immigration to be a right wing issue.
Davey said that rejoining the EU’s single market was his party’s “long term objective” but he refused to put a time scale on it.
In an interview with GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope, Davey said it had been a mistake for the Labour government to rule out relaxing restrictions on freedom of movement for the under-30s as part of the talks about resetting the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Ed Davey spoke to GB NewsGB NewsHe said: “The UK has a youth mobility scheme with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada.”But this appears that the government’s ruled out having one of those with Europe, even though that’s been a proposal from the other side. I think that’s a mistake.
“I want our young people in our country to have the freedom to work, to travel, to study across Europe, and I think we will welcome young Europeans here to contribute.
“We could get on with that – it might take a year or two to negotiate all the details. We’ve got to rebuild the trust. We’ve got to get it right. But that has to be part of the discussion.”
Asked if he considered immigration to be a “far right” issue, Davey said: “No I don’t think so. I think some of the language used by the far right is what I object.
Ed Davey ruled out campaigning alongside Nigel Farage on electoral reform
GB News
“By stirring up hatred we saw some people on the far right, and that’s the wrong way to deal with this issue. You need to deal with this issue, take the toxicity out of it, and look at the facts.
“Look at what works. And that’s why I think the Conservative did so badly. They didn’t do that. They actually chased headlines and they stirred up division, and they failed.
“They failed miserably on both illegal and legal immigration, and I think that’s why a lot of voters rejected them.”
On the single market, he said: “The government needs to be more optimistic, and that should include the long term objective getting back in the single market, because what we’ve got to do with our relationship with our European neighbours and friends is rebuild that trust.”
Davey also said the Liberal Democrats would not campaign for electoral reform with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, despite both parties agreeing on the need for proportional representation.
He said: “We are absolutely committed to electoral reform.”
Then on the similarity with Reform UK’s position, he added: “I can’t see me actually campaigning with him.”