Khan Advocates for Closer Ties with the EU Post-Brexit
During a recent meeting with ambassadors from the 27 EU nations and the EU’s representative in London, London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his readiness to diverge from Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on Brexit. Khan articulated his support for enhancing post-Brexit relations, including the establishment of a youth mobility scheme that would facilitate easier migration for individuals under the age of 30.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Khan described Brexit as a “mistake” and emphasized the significant benefits that the UK lost as a result. He stated, “I know I’m criticized by some members of my party, but I won’t apologize for underscoring the benefits we lost and the need to make it easier for young people to move.” He further characterized Brexit as “an awful act of self-harm,” underlining his concern for its long-term implications.
Khan’s remarks highlight a continuing rift within the Labour Party leadership. While Prime Minister Starmer appears hesitant to pursue a youth mobility agreement with the EU, aiming to control net migration, there are ongoing discussions in Whitehall about finding a potential compromise. This compromise could allow for increased youth migration in exchange for closer trade relations between the UK and the EU, aligning with Starmer’s vision for a post-Brexit “reset.”
Although Khan has publicly challenged No 10 on issues related to both Brexit and former President Trump, he took the opportunity during the meeting to commend Starmer for his serious approach to the reset initiative. Nevertheless, he reiterated his support for both a youth mobility scheme and the re-admittance of the UK into the Erasmus student exchange program.
- Both the UK and the EU are currently exploring potential “landing zones” that may involve a modification of the initial EU proposal, which sought to allow all 18-30-year-olds to travel visa-free between the UK and the EU for a duration of up to four years.
- As reported earlier, the EU has indicated its willingness to make concessions on its requirements, including the possibility of reducing the duration of travel for under-30s and rebranding the initiative as a “youth experience scheme.”
Some members of the Cabinet have begun to advocate privately for the implementation of a youth mobility scheme. Concurrently, the UK government is considering a compromise that would impose quotas on the number of young Europeans permitted to enter the UK annually. This approach would align the proposed EU youth mobility scheme with similar agreements that the UK has established with countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, and South Korea.
However, any potential compromise may conflict with the forthcoming immigration white paper from the government, which is anticipated to be released in the next two months and aims to address the ongoing issues related to net migration.
