Freedom of movement with EU can help fix broken jobs market for young people - Yorkshire Post Letters

Your columnist Ismail Mulla describes the difficulties facing young people in securing employment in what he correctly labels a ‘broken’ jobs market (The Yorkshire Post, August 21).

The situation is probably little better in other European countries but at least young people in all western European nations (except Switzerland) enjoy life-enhancing freedom of movement throughout the EEA (EU plus Norway and Iceland) as do His Majesty’s subjects in Northern Ireland on availing themselves of an Irish passport, a document now apparently much ‘stronger’ than the equivalent UK document.

Freedom of movement offered previous generations social, cultural, sporting, scientific and language-learning opportunities which are now denied to millions of young people from Great Britain.

It’s not impossible for them to spend time in continental Europe but it’s more difficult than before and the legal hurdles are higher. Yet these experiences surely bring economic benefits and make a young person more employable.

The isolationist Tories revelled in ending freedom of movement and sadly enjoyed tacit support from an insular Labour Party. Brexiteers are likely tired of me repeating this point. So am I. Freedom of movement needs to be restored albeit with caveats preventing workers’ dependents from claiming benefits for quite some time.

I have asked on numerous occasions for a Brexiteer to justify this callous denial of opportunity. I’ve also asked for a Brexit supporter to give examples of how Brexit has improved opportunity. I keep asking because no one answers. Because there is no answer.

It’s time to agree that sought after Youth Mobility agreement with the EEA. Let it apply without limit to everyone between 19 and 35. Progressive parties should then unashamedly place rejoining the Single Market with complete freedom of movement made central to their next election manifestoes.