A Perthshire MP attacked Theresa May for depriving youngsters of the freedom to “live, work and love” on the continent.
Pete Wishart, for the SNP, clashed with the Prime Minister over immigration as she gave evidence in a hearing before leaders of Westminster’s committees on Thursday.
The UK Government says the free movement of EU nationals onto these shores will end, with people allowed in based on their skills rather than nationality.
Mr Wishart, who represents Perth and North Perthshire, told her: “Isn’t it the case prime minister that the rights that you and I had to live, work and love across a continent of 28 nations is going to be deprived to our young people because your obsession with immigration?”
The Tory leader denied that saying the EU-UK declaration on the future relationship published last week says they will “consider conditions for entry and stay for purposes such as research, study, training and youth exchanges”.
Mrs May said: “Freedom of movement gives automatic rights to people living in the European Union that are not available to people outside the EU.
“In future we will end that automatic right that comes with free movement.
“What we will put in place is our system of immigration rules which will apply across all countries – and it will be skills-based rather than based on the country that somebody comes from.”