UPDATED 6:55am: A push to relax rules on Kiwis working in Britain is being cautiously welcomed.

The Commonwealth Exchange think tank wants Kiwis and Australians to have the same rights to travel and work in Britain, as people from the EU.

John Key says it's something his Government would greatly welcome but doubts will happen.

"I'm really sceptical. The biggest political issue in the United Kingdom is essentially immigration...they've got a general election in May next year and I think it's going to be very challenging to see much progress in that area."

However UKIP MP Douglas Carswell told Newstalk ZB's Rachel Smalley that's not necessarily a problem.

"It is an issue but it's the question of control. If people feel that there's some sort of democratic scrutiny over who's coming in, people are much more relaxed about it."

Business NZ's Paul Mackay says anything that helps Kiwis gain work experience is a good thing.

But he says people should remember there's still a job market in the UK and plenty of competition.

"One of the things that helps Kiwis I think is we have a very 'can do' attitude and we're attractive as workers in places like Britain. But that doesn't mean that we're welcomed completely with open arms because they'll be competing with locals for jobs."