Who or what is Keir Starmer frightened of? With July\u2019s landslide victory under his belt, he doesn\u2019t have to face the electorate for another five years. The rightwing media will attack him and Labour irrespective of what he says and does, but he can afford to ignore them. Meanwhile, surveys consistently show that a majority in the UK agree that Brexit has been a disaster<\/a>. And yet Sir Keir won\u2019t even begin to consider an EU-UK youth mobility scheme that is measurable and controllable, and would be hugely beneficial to the young people who will one day be responsible for this country (EU pushes Keir Starmer to open door to youth mobility scheme as PM heads to Brussels, 1 October<\/a>).<\/p>\n In the context of overall immigration, the potential numbers would be negligible \u2013 the whole point is an exchange, not residence. But as a symbol of the change that Labour claims to embody, and as an investment in future generations and a refutation of the appalling narrow nationalism that inflicted Brexit<\/a> on us, agreeing to it would signal the start of the UK returning to open-minded and welcoming dialogue with its nearest neighbours and allies. So what\u2019s stopping Sir Keir? <\/span> Your editorial (2 October<\/a>) is quite right to say that Starmer needs \u201ccourage and candour\u201d to reset relations with the EU. And, as Zoe Williams says, he needs good sense too (Starmer is boxing himself in over Europe \u2013 and putting approval ratings above young people\u2019s futures, 4 October<\/a>). He could use his position of authority to promote a reframed narrative about the value of links with Europe, the benefits of immigration and the need for safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.<\/p>\n
Don Keller<\/strong>
Harringay, London<\/em><\/p>\n