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Sadiq Khan will tell EU diplomats “Brexit was a mistake” and renew his backing for a youth mobility scheme as he argues strengthened ties with the bloc would help offset Donald Trump’s threatened tariff regime.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the mayor of London will tell delegates that Britain’s withdrawal from the trading bloc “continues to have a negative impact”, and he will promise to make the case for “being bold” in efforts to seek closer alignment.
Keir Starmer’s government has made resetting relations with the EU a priority but repeatedly ruled out returning to the single market, customs union or freedom of movement.
Wary of any deal that could be seen to cross these red lines, it has also resisted proposals from Brussels for a new scheme allowing under-30s from the bloc to live, work and study in the UK and vice versa.
But at a meeting with the UK ambassadors of the EU and the 27 member states, Khan will say he wants to look at ways to make it easier for schoolchildren from the EU to visit Britain.
“As mayor, I’m strongly in favour of a new youth mobility scheme,” he is expected to tell attenders of the gathering in London. “This would help to aid economic growth across Europe, but also give young Londoners and EU citizens important life experiences – like the opportunity to work abroad and learn more about our respective languages and cultures.
“As part of this, I’m keen for us to look at how we can make it easier for schoolchildren from the EU to visit the UK and learn more about our shared ties and history.”
He will urge European allies to come together to tackle a series of shared challenges including “the rise of an intolerant and anti-democratic populism” and “tariffs posing a real threat to international affairs”.
“I’m a proud European and of the view that Brexit was a mistake that continues to have a negative impact – not just on my city and country but on the European community as a whole,” Khan will say.
“I remain passionate about growing and improving our relationship across every area possible, and I believe this is essential if we’re to effectively tackle a host of shared challenges – relating to trade, our economies, security, the environment and the rise of an intolerant and anti-democratic populism.”
While he is not expected to name Trump explicitly, he is due to say: “Indeed, at a moment when we see trade wars and tariffs posing a real threat to international affairs, I’m convinced that we should be looking at what more we can do to strengthen our relationship as a counterweight to these trends.”
It comes after the Labour government told Khan that “a period of silence would be most welcome”, in a public rebuke over his earlier warnings of “resurgent fascism” under a new Trump presidency.
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Sonny Leong, who as a Lords whip holds the same constitutional position as a minister, said he disagreed with Khan and that Trump “has a mandate and we have to work with him”.
“Sometimes I would say a period of silence would be most welcome,” Lord Leong added.
Khan had highlighted the AfD party in Germany, the National Rally in France and Trump in the US and called them “opportunists who seek to divide people for personal and political gain”, in an article for the Observer.
A government spokesperson said: “We are committed to resetting the relationship with the EU to improve the British people’s security, safety and prosperity. But we have been clear there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.”
