“If Iceland and Monaco can be approved countries under the UK’s reciprocal youth mobility scheme, our nearest neighbors like Ireland and France should be too,” said Ian Roome , Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, during a hearing with EU Minister Stephen Doughty in London. the House of Commons this month.

And it’s not just opposition MPs who are lobbying the government over this policy. Stella Creasy, who chairs the Labor Movement for Europe, was one of several representatives to raise the policy with ministers, a sign of a growing appetite for the plan among government MPs.

“It is important to clarify that a youth mobility program is not synonymous with freedom of movement. When we already have projects with Uruguay, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, we can absolutely see that there are strict conditions on when people can come here,” he said. she declared during the same debate.

Doughty, who oversees relations with Europe alongside Cabinet Office Brexit minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, told MPs: “We are not going to make a rolling comment on our discussions with the EU, and the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Nick Thomas -Symonds) and others have already made a clear statement on this issue.

“We will continue to consider EU proposals on a range of issues, but we will not return to freedom of movement, but we are committed to finding constructive ways to work together and deliver results for the people British.”

But a Downing Street spokesperson gave a blunter response earlier this month when asked about the policy at a regular press briefing in Westminster, telling reporters: “Our position has not exchange. We are not going to participate in a European-wide youth mobility program. There will be no return to freedom of movement and this remains our position.”