Overview
- The UK and EU have reached an agreement in principle on a youth mobility visa scheme capped at fewer than 100,000 entries annually.
- The program will allow under-30s to live, work, and study in each other's territories, mirroring existing UK arrangements with non-EU countries.
- Downing Street maintains red lines, rejecting EU proposals to include family dependents and grant access to benefits for visa holders.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the deal, emphasizing that it does not reinstate free movement and aligns with Labour's immigration commitments.
- Critics, including Conservative figures, argue the scheme could harm job prospects for young Britons, while projections suggest only a modest 0.3% boost to UK economic growth by 2040.