Rachel Reeves joins Labour push to rejoin EU as she says youth ‘free movement’ scheme has ALREADY been negotiated
Rachel Reeves has said she believes Britain’s future lies in the EU, adding her voice to Labour’s renewed debate over Brexit and possible re-entry. She argued Brexit had made the UK poorer, weaker and less secure, while saying supporters of rejoining must show practical benefits and agree the right next steps.
Reeves pointed to a youth mobility scheme, which ministers reportedly agreed would allow 80,000 young Europeans to work in the UK, and called for confirmation of the deal at an upcoming UK-EU summit. She also hopes for progress on joining the SAFE defence partnership. Andy Burnham is due to meet Ursula von der Leyen on 20 November, while Labour figures remain divided over rejoining and whether any change would require a referendum.
In short
- Rachel Reeves says Britain’s future lies in the EU.
- A reported youth mobility deal could cover 80,000 young Europeans.
- Labour remains divided over rejoining and a possible referendum.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates of closer EU ties argue that Brexit has weakened the UK economically and diplomatically, and that a closer relationship could improve trade, security and opportunities for young people. They may see a negotiated youth mobility scheme and possible participation in EU defence arrangements as practical steps that bring benefits while allowing the public and politicians to assess the case for deeper change.
The case against
Those wary of rejoining argue that EU membership would transfer powers back to shared institutions and could constrain the UK’s ability to set its own rules and policies. They may favour targeted agreements, such as youth mobility or defence co-operation, while insisting that any move towards membership needs clear evidence of public support and a mandate through a referendum.
Explained simply
Brexit was the UK’s departure from the European Union, completed in 2020, ending its membership of the EU’s single market and customs union. The EU is a political and economic partnership of European countries, with shared rules and institutions.
Rachel Reeves is the UK’s chancellor and a senior Labour figure; Labour is the governing party. The party has so far ruled out rejoining the EU, while its politicians differ over how closely Britain should work with it and whether any major change should be put to a public vote.
Youth mobility schemes allow young people from participating countries to live and work in one another’s countries for a limited period. SAFE is an EU defence funding programme intended to support joint purchasing of military equipment; questions about Britain’s future relationship with the EU matter for trade, work and security.