UK’s Starmer lovebombs Scholz — but no going back on Brexit – POLITICO

Migration pressure

The trip also highlighted just how much pressure both leaders face on migration, an issue that came up repeatedly in press questions.

Starmer pointedly said the U.K. has “no plans” to set-up a much feted youth mobility scheme — which would ease restrictions on Brits and EU nationals studying and working abroad — as part of his reset, although he did not directly rule out such a proposal.

The U.K. leader also talked up “substantive discussions” with Scholz on curbing illegal migration, including an as-yet vague “joint action plan” on the issue.

For his part, Scholz, who is under mounting pressure domestically in the wake of a deadly stabbing attack in Solingen and the arrest of a Syrian national suspect, sought to strike a tough-sounding tone on irregular migration.

“We have massively expanded controls at the German borders and will continue to do so for as long as possible,” he said. “And yet the numbers are nowhere near what the citizens expect.”

He added: “If you want legal immigration, you have to limit irregular migration so that the country is not overwhelmed. This can and must be achieved without calling international agreements, European law or the constitution into question. We owe this to the victims of Solingen.”

Next stop for Starmer is Paris. He’ll be attending the Paralympics Opening Ceremony and will use the opportunity to pop by the Elysée Palace for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Noah Keate contributed reporting.