Keir Starmer opens migration floodgates days after revealing ‘crackdown plan’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is about to unveil plans for a youth mobility cope with the EU as a part of his Brexit reset deal. The settlement, which has been slammed as a “backdoor for free movement” by Reform UK, might be introduced subsequent week, simply days after Labour’s plan to overtake the migration system. On Monday, the federal government printed a White Paper on immigration to “take back control” of our borders, with the purpose of reducing web migration figures.

Despite Sir Keir claiming his youth mobility scheme wouldn’t herald a return to free motion, critics declare it might result in an “uncapped migration scheme”, counteracting the announcement on May 12. The EU has beforehand emphasised the significance of the youth mobility scheme for hanging a cope with the UK, which might imply freedom of motion for younger adults.

This could be modelled on Britain’s present association with Canada, the place 18-35 year-olds can apply for a three-year visa for the UK, permitting them to dwell and work in Britain.

However, this has been criticised by Reform UK deputy chief Richard Tice, who stated a youth mobility scheme could be a “backdoor to free movement of people from the EU”.

“This is not a government that can be trusted on Brexit. We cannot forget that this cabinet actively opposed Brexit and, in the case of Keir Starmer, actively campaigned to overturn the democratic decision of more than 17 million people,” he stated.

The prime minister and European leaders will strike a brand new deal on Monday 19 May, which features a new defence and safety pact, vitality and a youth mobility scheme.

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has additionally criticised the youth programme for doubtlessly resulting in an “uncapped migration scheme”.

The prime minister has since rejected these claims, saying that that freedom of motion was a “red line”. He instructed The Times: “If we get this stronger trading relationship with the EU then hopefully that will be ­measured in the pockets of working people. People will be better off.”

Sir Keir’s Brexit reset comes the week following his Immigration White Paper publication. During a press convention, he stated “living in this country is a privilege that must be earned”.

“Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened,” he stated.

Over the previous two years, web migration hit file figures, standing at 906,000 in 2023. This dropped by slightly below 20% to 728,000 in June 2023.

There have been additionally 162,000 grants of settlement in 2024, when Labour got here to energy, up 35% from 2023. In addition, there have been 270,000 grants of citizenship in 2024, up practically a 3rd on the earlier 12 months.