Shutting the door on free movement of young people is a mistake

I’m appalled that the government as well as the Labour party rejected the EU’s offer for free movement for young people (Sunak rejects offer of youth mobility scheme between EU and UK, 19 April). As a father of a teenage child with continental roots, it is sad for me to see that young children of British friends are denied the chance to work and study in continental Europe. The doors remain shut. Not the “remaining” we had in mind.

Without free movement in the then European Economic Community in 1982, I would not have come to England to study at an art school, and consequently there wouldn’t have been my illustrations for Julia Donaldson’s stories, which seem to be loved by millions of British children and parents. The Gruffalo is a good example of a successful, cross-European joint venture.

Having just returned from the international children’s book fair in Bologna, I’d like to emphasise that children’s books are also an economic success story for the UK. All creative industries essentially require openness.

It looks as if more and more people are realising that the numerous restrictions of Brexit are  disastrous for the cultural exchange between European nations, especially for the UK.
Axel Scheffler
Richmond, London

• What a pity that the timidity of both Labour and the Conservatives regarding anything European prevents them from committing to the proposal from the European Commission for free movement for 18- to 30-year-olds. For many young people, the motivation and confidence to work in the EU came from activity funded by Erasmus+ in schools, youth clubs or universities – a scheme from which we in the UK have also been excluded.
Ray Kirtley
Chair, UK Global Learning Association for Schools

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