The Future is Now – In Conversation with George Osborne and Ed Balls

A bold idea we could get behind.

I recently led a discussion between former UK Chancellor George Osborne and a former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. They may host a popular podcast together but their Conservative-Labour differences were plenty. The future of the high speed rail link HS2, how to revitalise cities, who would be the next head of the Conservative Party, Norwich City vs. Chelsea football teams, etc.

And yet when I asked them, ‘what would the Labour government do if it were really bold’ they firmly agreed that that the free movement of young people across Europe would be a driver of growth and opportunity.

So reading this final line in today’s FT about delayed (again) UK-EU trade talks between gave me pause. “The 27 EU members also want to discuss a youth mobility deal already rejected by London. Marcoš Šefčovič, the EU Brexit commissioner, has rebranded it a “youth opportunity” scheme after Prime Minister Keir Starmer rejected any return to freedom of movement.

I understand there’s a lot at stake. Fish and energy, for starters. And eels, apparently.

More seriously, divorce is hard on everyone, regardless of whether you are the one who decided to leave or the one who was left.

But surely we can agree to do what’s best for the kids?

Turns out I’m not alone in these thoughts.

A recent poll by a group called More in Common found that 58 per cent of people thought a UK-EU youth mobility scheme was a good idea and only 10 per cent a bad one. Even supporters of Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s rightwing political party, liked the scheme on balance.

Because who doesn’t want to give all young people the ability to study and work abroad? I think about my own kids, whose American passports makes it easier for them to fly 8-12 hours to the US for work experience than it does catching a train ride of a few hours to Paris.

What do countries gain by welcoming in foreign youth? New ways of thinking and working, foreign capital, the injection of optimism and drive. What do young people gain? Experience, language, culture, world view. Who loses?

As a Remoaner, I would be happy to reverse Brexit today. And I understand that won’t happen and that the next moves will be incremental and cautious.

But why not be brave. Do something good for the next generation?

When I first moved here New Labour’s big move was to give the Bank of England its Independence.

Allowing 18-30 year olds the ability to explore, study and work abroad seems to me like a similarly bold – and positive move.

Thank you to Seven Hills BPI and Here East for the opportunity to lead the discussion. All points of view in this post are mine – not theirs!