PM won't say how cosying up to EU will help Britain

KEIR Starmer insisted he has "no plans" to join a new youth mobility scheme with the EU yesterday but refused to say how Britain will be better off by his planned "closer relationship" with Brussels.

- Christian Calgie

The Prime Minister said that while he doesn't want to pre-empt negotiations due to take place next week, he won't be accepting the bloc's offer to increase freedom of movement.

He said: "We've no plans for a youth mobility scheme but we are heading out [to Brussels] for an important meeting this week.

"I don't want to get ahead of any important discussion we'll have but it is an important meeting this week which will go ahead."

Last week it was reported the EU hopes to offer the UK a new chance to join the scheme after it was repeatedly rejected by the previous Conservative government.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for a "gap year" visa has already been discussed by EU member states and will be presented to the next working group.