A UK-EU deal to allow under-30s to live, work and study in the two areas more easily for two years is backed by nearly half (45 per cent) of British voters, new polling suggests.
A youth mobility deal is meanwhile opposed by just 18 per cent of voters, the Survation survey for the Conservative European Forum (CEF) showed.
There is also backing across all the main political parties other than Reform, with 40 per cent of Conservative voters favouring a deal, nearly twice the number who oppose it.
It prompted senior Tories to urge the Government to engage with EU demands not to cap the number of visas issued on the scheme, but instead subject them to an “emergency brake” if numbers get out of control.
Their intervention and the polling will put pressure on Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who has said a youth mobility deal would “leave the door ajar for a return to EU free movement – including the possibility of admitting migrants from some of the poorest parts of Europe, potentially along with their dependents”. Net migration hit record levels under the Conservative government post-Brexit.
Latest stumbling block in deal
A so-called “youth experience” scheme is the key EU demand in the Brexit reset talks started by Sir Keir Starmer, but negotiations have hit several stumbling blocks, with the Government reluctant to agree to anything that looks like more migration while facing political pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform.
The UK is demanding a hard limit on the number of people who can access the scheme.
The i Paper this weekend revealed that a new obstacle has emerged over fears British young people may be locked out of working in some EU member states even if a deal is struck.
EU member states, rather than Brussels, retain the power individually to issue work permits with their national governments.
But the polling suggested a two-year, time-limited deal was unlikely to be too controversial, with more 2016 Leave voters (35 per cent) backing it than opposing (27 per cent), with the final details of any scheme to be worked out in talks.
Senior former Tory minister Stephen Hammond, who chairs the CEF, said: “At a time of economic pressure and immense geopolitical uncertainty, it is plainly in our national interest to pursue practical arrangements that expand opportunity, support key sectors of the economy and strengthen ties with our European partners.
“As today’s report makes clear, a UK-EU youth mobility scheme would give young people in the UK renewed access to valuable experiences in Europe, whilst driving economic growth in sectors that have felt the reduced access to workers particularly sharply.
“This would be a welcome step forward that can deliver real benefits for British people and businesses, and the Government should now move with greater urgency and transparency to overcome any remaining obstacles in order to conclude talks before the upcoming UK-EU summit.”
Deal could boost UK tourism
Lord Kirkhope, a Tory peer who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on Europe, said a deal would be similar to arrangements the UK has with Australia, Canada and Japan and “would give young people new opportunities, while also helping sectors from hospitality and agriculture to small businesses and the legal profession, all of which have felt the impact of a shrinking pool of young European talent”.
Travel industry chiefs also backed the CEF’s new report on youth mobility.
Luke Petherbridge, public affairs director at the ABTA, said a deal could boost the UK tourism industry in all directions.
“From an outbound travel perspective, the number of UK nationals working for UK travel companies in Europe has declined by 69 per cent since Brexit.
“This decline in UK staff poses significant labour challenges for businesses, many of whom have had to change their operating models.
“It also represents a loss of opportunity for the young people prevented by visa and work permit requirements from taking jobs that have long been a springboard to successful careers in travel.
“To illustrate this, 38 per cent of all workers in travel and 49 per cent of industry leaders have worked a season overseas earlier in their careers.”
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