Remain campaigners have called on donors to sponsor youth groups for the tools to lobby during the Brexit negotiations, to give the under-30s a voice on education funding, freedom to work and study in Europe, as well as job security.

The new campaign, which organisers say has more than 4,000 young supporters signed up, will ask those who have financially supported campaigns such as Stronger In and Open Britain to fund groups such as Youth for Europe to deliver campaigns on university campuses and colleges.

Open Britain, the continuity arm of Stronger In, which campaigns to keep the UK in the single market, will organise the campaign with the youth group Undivided, which has members of both the leave and remain campaigns within its ranks.

The groups have recorded a new campaigning video, featuring young supporters of Vote Leave and Stronger In. “It is the first time those who worked on the official, designated campaigns have come together in this way,” Open Britain said.



The majority of those involved are likely to be remain supporters, however. Young people are far more likely to have voted remain, according to polling data from YouGov shortly after the referendum, which found 75% of 18- to 24-year-olds wanted the UK to stay in the European Union.

The key issues which will be the cornerstone of the campaign in the lead-up to the triggering of article 50 will be maintaining the rights of students and young professionals to live, work and study across Europe under similar free movement rules as currently exist.

“This broadens educational experiences and presents new prospects for those taking the first steps in their working lives,” the group’s statement said. “This should not change as the government develops a new migration policy.”

Such continued freedoms are unlikely to be easy to square with Theresa May’s insistence that the UK will be seeking tighter controls on migration to the UK or with the EU attitude that free movement for British citizens will only be able to continue with a reciprocal arrangement for other Europeans.



The youth-led campaign will also push for the UK’s ability to trade freely within the European single market, as well as to protect university funding. A promise made by Vote Leave to guarantee the EU funding for UK universities must be honoured, the campaigners said.

“It is vital that current levels of spending are increased in the next parliament and that young people’s opportunities do not suffer,” the group’s statement said.

Open Britain’s co-executive director, Joe Carberry, said many young people the campaign had spoken to felt they had different priorities for the Brexit negotiations which would not be taken into account. “They want the same opportunities previous generations enjoyed – to work, travel freely and study in Europe – and they are prepared to campaign for them,” he said.

The Undivided campaign manager Elspeth Hoskins, also a former remain campaigner, said: “For too long, the views of young people have been overlooked in politics. In 2017, we want that to change, regardless of whether we voted leave or remain.”

The campaign launched on Friday with the release of the video message. “2016 was a dramatic year that will reshape politics and the UK for generations,” it says. “Article 50 will be triggered. And we should all be involved. Over our economy, security and environment.

“What unites us? We want to be open. Open for business. Open for talent and hard work. Open for trade and investment. Open mindedness.”