Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has accused Labour of attempting to “unpick” Brexit amid Sir Keir Starmer “resetting” the UK’s relationship with the EU.
It comes after a senior Labour MP claimed that calls for a youth mobility scheme were “pushing at an open door”.
Stella Creasy – MP for Walthamstow – suggested that free movement within the EU for young people might be possible with Labour in power, labelling it as a “absolute hot topic” for the Government.
“The good news is, it is being discussed,” Creasy said at a briefing for the Labour Movement for Europe.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has accused Labour of attempting to “unpick” Brexit amidst Keir Starmer “resetting” the UK’s relationship with the EU
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“It is very clear that there has been negotiation and movement on there. So we are pushing at an open door.”
Such a scheme would permit those under the age of 30 to live, work and study freely between the UK and other member states.
This news has sparked outrage from the Tories, whose long-divided splits have been further entrenched over years of arduous Brexit negotiations.
Patel said: “Labour can try and deny it all they like, but the whole country can see what their real game is – Keir Starmer is trying to unpick Brexit at every opportunity he can.
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“Labour have surrendered in every negotiation they’ve entered from the Chagos Islands to inflation busting pay rises for their union chums, and this clearly won’t be any different.
“The Conservatives will not let them drag us back into the EU via the back door. We will hold them to account.”
Creasy – who is chair of the Labour group – has said that they do not intend to rejoin the EU, but are attempting to “salvage” the relationship.
When questioned on rejoining the EU, she added: “The honest truth is that talks and discussions – even if Europe were willing to entertain it for rejoining – would be a 10 year process.
Creasy – who is chair of the Labour group – has said that they do not intend to rejoin the EU, but are attempting to “salvage” the relationship
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“Frankly, an entire generation of young people do not have 10 years for negotiations.
“They need us to do things now, to salvage something for them, to have a future. And a youth mobility scheme is a starting point.”
Creasy has been tipped to become the next Labour candidate for London Mayor in 2028.
A Government spokesperson said: “There are no plans for a Youth Mobility Scheme and we will not return to freedom of movement.”