The Daily Mail has fired up the political drama machine again, claiming Keir Starmer has assembled a “surrender squad” to quietly reverse Brexit. Subtle as ever.
The Scary Plan: Freedom of Movement for Young People
Brace yourselves: one of these “demands” from Brussels is apparently a scheme to allow under-30s to move and work more easily between the UK and the EU. Yes, the kind of freedom many Brits enjoyed before Brexit, now rebranded as a dastardly plot.
Labour has previously kept its distance from anything resembling a return to free movement, worried it might betray its manifesto promises. But European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has been dropping hints, suggesting the government might be up for a chat about this. A youth mobility scheme? Hardly the end of the world—or so one might think.
Lord Frost Smells a Conspiracy
Enter Lord Frost, Boris Johnson’s Brexit lieutenant, with the political equivalent of an eyebrow raise. “They instinctively want to rejoin the EU,” he declared, as though Starmer had been caught sneaking a croissant under the table at Brussels HQ.
Frost didn’t stop there. “This Surrender Squad,” he fumed, “is getting ready for a major renegotiation—bigger than what we had for the original deal in 2020.” Apparently, this mysterious unit will outnumber Frost’s own Brexit team. More people than a Frost squad? Now that’s a headline.
Are the Youth Really the Problem?
The Daily Mail is painting this as a step backward, a betrayal of Brexit’s proud legacy. But let’s be honest, a youth mobility scheme could be a lifeline for a generation that’s lost opportunities to study, work, and explore Europe post-Brexit. A positive thing for the economy, perhaps? Not if you believe the Brexit purists.
‘Surrender Squad’ or Sensible Solutions?
It’s easy to mock the notion of a covert “Surrender Squad,” but what’s really going on here? Labour’s tentative interest in rebuilding bridges with the EU—on things like youth opportunities—is being spun into a full-blown conspiracy to erase Brexit.
The reality? It’s just politics. Starmer’s team is trying to navigate the mess Brexit left behind, and offering young people a way to travel and work in Europe hardly feels like a betrayal.
As columnist Tim Walker put it best: “Go on, punk, make my day.” Whether this squad will truly “surrender” or just make some practical changes is yet to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the Brexit soap opera isn’t going anywhere.
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