Fury as UK could be opened up to 150MILLION new migrants under EU youth visa scheme in fresh Brexit surrender
EIGHTY million Europeans will qualify for a British visa if free movement for under-35s is not capped as fears mount over a fresh surrender to Brussels.
The pool of potential migrants could surge to 150million if nine “candidate countries” — including Albania and North Macedonia — are allowed to join the bloc.
Last night, PM Sir Keir Starmer again refused to say whether a quota would apply to the £3,500 youth mobility visas — despite warnings it would destroy his attempts to reduce net migration.
His only comment when pressed by The Sun was that free movement for all would not return.
He met with European leaders in Albania’s capital Tirana ahead of a London summit with the EU Commission on Monday when he is set to sign a defence and security pact and soften food goods checks.
EU countries, led by France, also want more access to UK fishing waters and alignment of EU rules — with Britain having no say on how they are set.
But top of the list of concessions requested by Brussels is the visa scheme — with the French demanding the cost of any new youth visa should be slashed to around £1,000.
As a bargaining chip, it is dangling extra support to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
There are about 80million Europeans in this age range. However tight the conditions, it would risk opening the floodgates
Lord Frost
Talks ahead of what has been dubbed the “surrender” summit are said to be on a knife edge amid concerns more taxpayers’ cash could end up in EU coffers.
Lord Frost, who was the UK’s chief negotiator during Brexit talks under Boris Johnson, said it would be a “sell-out” if no youth mobility visa cap was put in place.
He said: “The Government’s been so dishonest about its approach that it’s entirely possible this is expectation management — they have agreed a cap and just want to present it as a negotiating triumph.
“But a mobility deal without a cap would be a genuine sell out.
“There are about 80million Europeans in this age range. However tight the conditions, it would risk opening the floodgates.
“Labour are planning to open the borders to tens of millions of young Europeans even though immigration is far too high already — and this just a few days after Starmer promised to clamp down on it.”
He added: “They’re taking us back into the single market for agriculture and food. They are letting the EU push up our carbon price as part of the disastrous Net Zero policy. And they are abandoning our fishing grounds and fishermen just before we would have finally taken back full control again.
“Once again, the rules and the laws will be set in Brussels. EU officials will monitor them and EU courts will enforce them.
“Britain gets no say. Whatever we are getting back for this, the price is too high.”
The talks come less than two weeks after the UK struck trade deals with India and the US.
Sir Keir will insist that any pact with the EU will drive growth and boosting living standards.
He spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday.
No10 has refused to rule out sending cash to bolster the EU as part of the reset and negotiators insist that they will only sign a deal in the “national interest”.
Any draft agreement may not be finalised until tomorrow but a security and defence partnership will be the showpiece.
It could give UK firms access to a £125billion military fund the EU is setting up.
Critics fear that the UK will be put under pressure as France is understood to want to tie this in some way to fishing rights access.
Brussels also wants cheaper university fees for students coming here in exchange for help with the huge numbers of migrants crossing the Channel.
If concessions are granted here, more help from the bloc on migrants and data-sharing could be forthcoming.
The Prime Minister thinks he’ll get away with this surrender deal but he under- estimates how strong Brexit feeling still is in the Red Wall
Farage
Any sell-out is predicted to go down badly in constituencies where Reform UK is hot on Labour’s heels.
Reform leader Nigel Farage said last night: “The Prime Minister thinks he’ll get away with this surrender deal but he under- estimates how strong Brexit feeling still is in the Red Wall. The whole ‘reset’ is an abject surrender from Starmer and politically something he will come to regret.”
Sir Keir said last night that the UK would not “turn inward” amid global uncertainty.
He said: “In a new era for trade and the economy, we will increase our resilience, strengthen our alliances and reduce barriers to trade with our allies around the world and Europe.
“In this time of great uncertainty and volatility, the UK will not respond by turning inwards, but by taking its place on the world stage, strengthening alliances, supporting freedom and peace in Europe.”
He added that it was vital to do more on immigration, a challenge that “crosses our borders”.
BOSS BABY KEIR & CO
By RYAN SABEY
A BABY AI version of Sir Keir Starmer gives a double wave at the European Political Community summit’s opening ceremony.
The PM was among the leaders in Tirana to have a tot version of themselves generated — with each one saying “Welcome to Albania” in their own language.
French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Albania’s PM Edi Rama were among others returned to their infant times.