Jeremy Hunt, former chancellor and chair of the financial markets and services all-party parliamentary group, has expressed opposition to calls for reopening discussions with the European Union on the free movement of people. In a recent commentary, Hunt outlined his reservations about reversing current immigration policies, emphasizing the potential economic and political consequences.

Drawing on his personal experience working in several European countries and his tenure as health secretary, Hunt acknowledged the challenges that arose when the UK was part of the EU. He noted that sectors such as health care relied heavily on European workers to fill labor shortages, while many young Britons remained unemployed or dependent on welfare. However, he argued that the previous model was unsustainable and unfair, with free movement enabling employers to hire sizable numbers of European workers instead of investing in domestic workforce development.

Since leaving the EU and the single market, immigration from Europe has been significantly reduced, a shift Hunt supports. He highlighted the continuing difficulty in addressing youth unemployment—pointing out that approximately one million young people in the UK are not in employment, education, or training—and cautioned that reintroducing freedom of movement could further complicate efforts to integrate young Britons into the labor market. Hunt also suggested that while freedom of movement is reciprocal, the UK's relatively high minimum wage compared to countries like France, Germany, Spain, and Belgium could make the UK a more attractive destination for migrants, potentially intensifying competition for jobs.

Hunt also raised concerns about the strain that increased migration might place on public services such as housing and the National Health Service (NHS), as well as its impact on welfare spending, which he identified as a potential fiscal challenge for the government. He linked these economic considerations with broader questions of national sovereignty and democratic legitimacy, reiterating the importance of implementing the Brexit referendum outcome to maintain social stability and trust in the democratic process.

Reflecting on his experience within Theresa May’s government, Hunt described the difficulties in navigating the constitutional and political upheaval following the Brexit vote, including the parliamentary deadlock over withdrawal agreements. He advocated for a principle of limiting votes on major constitutional questions—such as Brexit or Scottish independence—to once a generation to avoid ongoing divisiveness.

Hunt criticized recent Labour proposals to revisit freedom of movement with the EU, characterizing such moves as politically motivated and potentially undermining efforts to unite the country. He referenced Labour figures’ past commitments to avoid reopening divisive debates, suggesting that revisiting these issues might contradict promises of putting national unity and immediate public concerns above party politics.

The debate over free movement remains a contentious issue within UK politics, balancing economic needs, democratic mandates, and social cohesion as the country continues to navigate its post-Brexit identity.