The UK government is set to confirm today that it will rejoin the European Union's flagship Erasmus student exchange programme, marking a significant reversal of a post-Brexit decision. The move, first reported by Pippa Crerar for the Guardian, will see the UK return to the scheme from 2027.
Political Reactions: A Welcome but Overdue Move
The announcement has been warmly received by pro-European political parties, who have long campaigned for the UK's return to the scheme. The Liberal Democrats, through their universities spokesperson Ian Sollom, welcomed the news as a "moment of real opportunity" and a step towards repairing the "disastrous Conservative Brexit deal." However, they emphasised this must be a first step on a roadmap to a closer UK-EU relationship, including negotiating a bespoke customs union and a youth mobility scheme.
The Scottish National Party also issued a statement from Joe Fitzpatrick MSP, criticising the delay and stating that "Scottish students shouldn’t be used as pawns in Westminster’s Brexit blunders." The statement highlighted that Scotland did not vote for Brexit and that its young people have borne the cost. Notably, there has been silence so far from the Conservative party and Reform UK, who face the dilemma of defending the original decision to leave Erasmus and its less generous, non-reciprocal replacement, the Turing scheme.
The Erasmus Return: Context and Consequences
The UK's departure from the Erasmus+ programme was a contentious part of the Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson's government. Its replacement, the Turing scheme, has been criticised for being less generous and not offering reciprocal exchange opportunities for EU students coming to the UK. The decision to rejoin is seen as a major policy shift for the government and will be closely watched by the university sector and young people across the country.
The confirmation is expected this morning, amidst a busy parliamentary schedule. The government is also using written ministerial statements to make a raft of announcements ahead of recess, covering issues from the local government settlement to the bid for the Telegraph newspaper.
A Day of Parallel Crises: Doctors' Strike and PMQs
While the Erasmus announcement will dominate headlines, the government faces immediate pressure on another front. Resident doctors in England have begun a five-day strike, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting due to address MPs on the issue. Later today, Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions.
Other notable events include a leadership election result at the Unison union, where general secretary Christina McAnea faces a challenge, and the Green party's announcement of a "significant" defection, reported to be former Labour mayor Jamie Driscoll.
