Yvette Cooper refuses four times to answer whether she backs EU mobility scheme - after Treasury supports it

29 April 2025, 10:40

By Natasha Clark

@NatashaC

The Home Secretary's refused four times to say whether she backs an EU youth mobility scheme - after the Treasury appeared to back the move.

A Cabinet split has opened up over the idea of whether to entertain the idea - which the Government had previously said wasn't on the table.

Yvette Cooper is believed to be opposed to the idea, which she is worried will increase headline migration numbers.

But the Treasury and Rachel Reeves believe it could boost the economy, and it's being discussed as part of a possible deal with Brussels.

A crunch EU-UK summit is pencilled in for next month, where both sides are expected to sign a number of agreements on defence, migration and aligning on standards.

Read more: EU youth mobility scheme is 'no-brainer', German ambassador to UK tells LBC

Read more: No return to free movement as Britain enters talks about EU ‘mobility deal,’ Chancellor tells LBC

The Home Secretary was asked by LBC's Nick Ferrari this morning if she'd support such an EU mobility scheme - which could open up travel for under 30s to the continent.

Ms Cooper told Nick: "It's not something we put forward, we've been clear that net migration needs to come down... it quadrupled in four years."

She was asked again, but replied: "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."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper joins Nick Ferrari at Breakfast | Watch in full

Last week, Ms Reeves told LBC that discussions on such a scheme are "ongoing at the moment".

She added: "There will be a summit between the UK and the EU in May.

Britain already has a number of such deals with other countries including Australia and Canada."And that summit will be focused on reducing some of the trade barriers that exist between our countries."

But she insisted the government "will bring down net migration" - which soared to nearly one million people a year coming to Britain under the last Tory government.

The Chancellor said it was "non negotiable" that there would be "no return to free movement within the European Union" and that migration numbers would come down.

Downing Street has described them as "red lines" in any EU deal.

Ms Reeves stressed: "It is important that we determine who comes into our country and those things are not up for negotiation."

LBC understands that the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, is pushing for any visas to be strictly time-limited - of up to 12 months.

MPs who are urging ministers to agree a scheme have also said the numbers should be capped.

A source close to the Home Secretary told LBC: "Yvette's priority it to reduce net migration - as a PM priority. She will stop at nothing to make sure she's working hard to do that."