…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, will urge the UK government to ease post-Brexit visa rules in a speech to business leaders on Thursday evening.
He warns that current policies are dissuading young Europeans from visiting and working in the capital.
Khan will call on ministers to introduce a new youth group travel visa designed to make the UK more open to visits from international school pupils.
A recent survey by the Tourism Alliance revealed that EU-based tour operators expected to send only 42% of the students to the UK in 2023 compared to 2019, with 90% and 95% expected for other EU countries and the Republic of Ireland, respectively.
The need for all visiting EU school-children to have passports, including refugees, since October 2021, is thought to have had a particular impact on school visitor numbers to the UK.
Before Brexit, groups of EU school children could travel using their state-issued European Economic Area (EEA) identity cards.
However, children with non-EU passports, including refugees, also need a £95 visa.
Passport ownership is less common in many European countries than in the UK, with less than half the population of France and Germany holding a passport.
Policy Proposals
Khan’s proposals include introducing a new youth group travel visa and extending the government’s Youth Mobility Scheme with EU countries in a reciprocal agreement.
The Youth Mobility Scheme enables 18-30-year-olds from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and a few other countries to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
Khan believes that doing so would promote cultural exchange and support sectors experiencing labour shortages, such as hospitality and catering.
Richard Toomer, executive director of the Tourism Alliance, welcomed the policy proposal, stating that the new rules are making many EU school trips to London prohibitively difficult and expensive to organise.
He added that youth mobility schemes already exist and need expanding to more countries such as France, Spain, and Poland.
Differences in Opinion
Khan’s policy suggestions highlight the difference in outlook between himself and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer when it comes to the broader question of Britain’s relationship with the EU.
In January, the Mayor called for a “debate” on whether the UK should re-join the European single market, but Sir Keir has said that there is “no case for going back to the EU or going back into the single market”.
The Labour leader has instead said there is “a very good case for making Brexit work”.