Will Starmer agree to an EU youth scheme after all?

British negotiators are "to table" a plan to allow tens of thousands of young EU workers and students to come to the UK to live and work for two years, while Britons aged 18-30 would be able to go to EU countries on the same terms.

- JOHN RENTOUL

In response to a report in The Times on Thursday night, No 10 insisted that it “doesn’t recognise” the plan and that the government position has not changed.

Keir Starmer has repeatedly said there are no plans for a youth mobility scheme. He has been determined to avoid anything that could be described by the Conservatives and Reform as a return to free movement and a betrayal of Brexit. But most voices speaking for the EU have suggested that such a scheme would be a necessary part of any agreement to “reset” the relationship between Britain and the EU.

Talks about a renewed relationship have accelerated recently as both sides hope to unveil a new deal at a UK-EU leaders’ summit in May.

So what is going on?