Tag Archives: youth mobility

• Davey: Chancellor must order economic forecasts on UK-EU customs union ahead of Spring Statement
• Cooper ruling out youth mobility scheme is “short-sighted and bitter blow to young people”
• Davey: PM must “drop his red line” on Customs Union as he meets EU leaders
• Scottish Liberal Democrats table amendment to erase SNP power grab “for good”

Davey: Chancellor must order economic forecasts on UK-EU customs union ahead of Spring Statement

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to order an official analysis on the economic benefits of a UK-EU customs union, ahead of March’s Spring Statement.

He said that families and businesses worried about the state of the economy and public finances deserve “full transparency about the benefits that a closer trading relationship with Europe would bring.”

In a letter to the Chancellor, Ed Davey said the Treasury should commission the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to analyse the impact a customs deal with the EU would have for the UK economy and public finances. He said these updated forecasts should be made public as part of the OBR’s forecasts due to be published alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March.

The Liberal Democrat Leader also urged Keir Starmer to begin talks on a UK-EU Customs Union in his meeting with EU leaders in Brussels expected on Monday 3rd February, with an initial first step of agreeing to join the pan-European customs scheme (PEM).

The OBR has previously forecast that the UK economy is set to take a 4% hit over 15 years due to the impact of Brexit. According to a recent study conducted by the London School for Economics, the Conservative’s Brexit deal has led to a £27 billion drop (6.4%) in the value of UK goods exports to the EU.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey commented:

The Chancellor is tying herself in knots trying to think up new ways to grow our economy. But there’s a solution right under her nose: a new UK-EU customs union deal that boosts trade for British businesses and raises vital tax revenue for our public services.

It’s a no-brainer. After years of damage thanks to the Conservatives’ botched trade deal with the EU, this would improve access to our biggest trading partner and put rocket boosters under economic growth.

Families and businesses around the country are deeply worried about the state of the economy and our public services. They deserve full transparency from the government about the benefits that a closer trading relationship with Europe would bring.

Keir Starmer should use his meeting with EU leaders on Monday to fire the starting gun on agreeing a new customs partnership with Europe. There is no time to waste in fixing the damage done by the Conservatives, cutting red tape for businesses and strengthening our hand with Donald Trump.

Cooper ruling out youth mobility scheme is “short-sighted and bitter blow to young people”

Responding to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper ruling out any plans for Labour to negotiate a youth mobility scheme with the EU during an interview with Trevor Phillips this morning, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Calum Miller MP said: