Rachel Reeves has underlined her ambition for Britain’s youth to work across Europe, stepping into an increasingly heated debate over a potential youth mobility scheme with the EU.
Speaking in Washington, DC, the Chancellor stressed she is “determined that we can get there” after holding trade talks with her US counterpart, Scott Bessent.
When asked about the possibility of a youth mobility agreement, Ms Reeves made the government’s stance clear: “We’re going to bring down net migration and we aren’t going to return to freedom of movement. But we are hosting the summit next month.
We do want to see better trading relationships between our countries, and we do want to enable young people from Europe and the UK to be able to work and travel overseas.”
In a conversation with The Sunday Times, she added: “But we’ve got to get the balance right, because I do not want to see net migration increasing. I want to see net migration falling.”
Her comments come amid growing pressure for the UK to improve ties with the EU, especially after Reeves recently described Britain’s relationship with Europe as “arguably even more important” than its trading links with the US.
The idea of a youth mobility scheme has become a significant point of contention. Such a programme would allow individuals aged 18 to 35 to live and work between the UK and EU countries for up to two years.
Currently, Britain has similar arrangements with nations like Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and others. However, extending such an agreement to the EU has so far been publicly rejected by Downing Street, citing concerns over breaching manifesto promises and fears of rising migration.
Yet, Reeves’s latest remarks suggest a potential softening of this hardline stance, just weeks before the critical EU-UK summit scheduled for 19 May — an event seen as pivotal to Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to “reset” Britain’s relationship with Brussels.
Key Details of the Youth Mobility Proposal:
- Age Range: 18–35 years
- Duration: Up to two years
- Not Freedom of Movement: Strict conditions and time limits
- Purpose: Strengthen people-to-people ties without increasing net migration
Supporters argue the scheme is strictly limited and would not reintroduce full freedom of movement. They stress it is a practical step toward restoring stronger ties without violating political commitments.
Earlier this week, 62 Labour MPs and 11 peers penned a letter to Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Minister handling EU negotiations, calling for “a new and bespoke youth visa scheme” for citizens under 30.
Despite this internal pressure, Environment Secretary Steve Reed reaffirmed the government’s cautious approach, saying: “It’s right to say there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme. We’re not going to breach our manifesto commitments.”
Meanwhile, Reeves remains optimistic about striking a trade deal with the United States.
Speaking about discussions with Bessent, she said: “Both of us want to see trade barriers fall. There’s still some more detail to work through. Both of us want a deal, but it’s got to be a deal that is in our national interest.
I’m determined that we can get there. I know we can get there. There’s some more detail to work through.”
Reeves also stressed the wider benefits for Britain’s economy: “Britain is an open trading economy. We benefit when trade barriers fall, and we want to see trade barriers fall with all of our trading partners.”
This push towards deeper international trade ties follows her earlier remarks prioritising stronger UK-EU relations, which you can read more about here. This comes as UK ministers scramble to secure exemptions from Donald Trump’s broad tariffs, which are shaking global markets.
This comes as UK ministers scramble to secure exemptions from Donald Trump’s broad tariffs, which are shaking global markets.
Rachel Reeves’s remarks highlight a careful balancing act: opening opportunities for young Britons abroad without inflating net migration figures.
As the EU-UK summit looms closer, it seems the government is preparing for a cautious but meaningful shift — one that could have major implications for Britain’s next generation and its post-Brexit future.
