Want to prove you care about young people, Keir Starmer? Give us back our freedom to explore Europe | Beth Riding

The scrapping of the Erasmus scheme was a mistake. But by working with Brussels, the PM can put it right In my lifetime, it has always felt as if the government has served old people at the expense of young people. The most notable example during the Conservatives’ time in office was the huge increase in university tuition fees to £9,000, while older voters had the security of the pension triple lock and no shortage of polices that worked in their favour. To add insult to injury, Rishi Sunak proposed during the last election campaign that national service should be compulsory for all 18-year-olds. We consistently seem to be either forgotten or punished. This government must turn things around – and it can start by reintroducing some form of free movement for 18- to 30-year-olds across Europe. It is a plan the government is apparently considering but has publicly denied it supports. It should know that implementing it would offer a beacon of light at a time of darkness for many young people in the UK. Beth Riding is an A-level student in Cornwall. She won the Guardian Foundation’s 2024 Hugo Young award in the 16-18 category