London's Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has taken a bold stance in favor of a mobility agreement with the European Union (EU), showcasing one of the most pro-European positions within the Labour Party since the contentious Brexit decision. Khan's proposal revolves around the concept of facilitating freer movement for young people, either through the establishment of a new program enabling unrestricted travel to and from EU countries or through a modification of the post-Brexit regulations. The essence of his argument lies in mitigating the economic and cultural repercussions stemming from the UK's departure from the EU as reported by The Guardian.
Highlighting the irony that a significant portion of the youth affected by Brexit couldn't participate in the 2016 referendum, Khan emphasizes the disproportionate impact on this demographic, particularly in London. He criticizes the government's firm Brexit stance for causing widespread damage, asserting that the capital's young population bears the brunt of the aftermath. In an interview with the Observer, he underlines the increasing difficulty for young individuals to relocate abroad for employment and criticizes the government's decision to withdraw from the Erasmus program, complicating students' opportunities for studying abroad.
Proposing a potential solution, Khan advocates for a youth mobility program, envisioning reciprocal freedom for both Londoners seeking opportunities in EU countries and young EU citizens aspiring to come to London. He passionately asserts that, despite the UK's departure from the EU, London remains and will always be a European city.
While Khan stops short of advocating for rejoining the EU, he does suggest that reconsidering membership in the customs union should be part of the Brexit agreement's reassessment. He has previously called for a pragmatic debate on the UK's potential reentry into the single market and customs union when the terms of the Brexit deal are up for discussion in 2025.
This stance by Khan represents one of the most pro-European interventions from a senior Labour politician since the 2016 referendum. It signals a clear direction for Labour under Khan's leadership, indicating a strong pro-European, anti-Brexit campaign for the upcoming mayoral elections in May, where Khan is seeking a third four-year term. With a likely opponent in the form of a right-wing Conservative candidate, Susan Hall, who strongly supports Brexit, Khan appears to be strategically aligning himself with the anti-Brexit sentiment prevalent among the majority of London voters.
Recent polls suggest that the perception of Brexit as a failure and a growing inclination towards closer ties with the EU is not confined to London alone, indicating a broader shift in public opinion across the country.
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