A youth mobility scheme for young people from the UK and European Union "would help our economy" and is the "right step forward", Sir Ed Davey has told GB News.
The Liberal Democrat leader said he was "positive" about the possibility of a scheme to offer freedom of movement to 18 to 30-year-olds, seeking an opportunity to strengthen cross-Channel ties as part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's "Brexit reset".
Speaking to the People's Channel on the campaign trail in Cambridgeshire, Davey told GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope: "We've always been positive about the prospect of a youth mobility scheme with Europe.
"We think that has great advantage for British people, young people wanting to study, work and travel abroad. And we actually would help our economy."
Sir Ed Davey discusses migration with Christopher Hope
GB NEWS
Davey said that any youth mobility scheme had to be modelled on similar schemes in other countries, including Australia and Japan.
He added: "That's a cap scheme, and that's what we want to see. Let's see what the details are that the Government comes forward.
"But Liberal Democrats have championed this. We think it's the right step forward."
Davey's comments come after the Home Office and Treasury appeared at loggerheads over an EU mobility scheme.
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GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope joined Sir Ed Davey in Cambridgeshire
GB NEWS
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "It's not something we put forward, we've been clear that net migration needs to come down... it quadrupled in four years."
Pushed further by LBC, Cooper added: "There's a lot of speculation and reports... there will be up until the summit. I'm not going to comment on that ... We are working closely with EU on how we can improve action and to reduce irregular migration.
"The bottom line will be making sure net migration comes down."
However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves did appear to hint at a preferential migration scheme for EU nationals aged 30 and under.
Sir Ed Davey
GB NEWS
She said: “We do want to see better trading relationships between our countries and we do want to enable young people from Europe and the UK to be able to work and travel overseas.”
More than 60 Labour MPs have also signed a letter pushing for a youth mobility scheme with the Brussels bloc.
In a letter to Starmer's EU Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, 62 Labour MPs and 11 peers called for “a new and bespoke youth visa scheme” for UK and European citizens under 30.
Meanwhile, Tory and Reform UK MPs have voiced opposition and warned the move constitutes a major Brexit betrayal.
You can watch the full Davey interview from 7pm on GBN Tonight.
