Labour Rejoins EU’s £570m Erasmus Programme
The UK government has quietly signed Britain back up to the EU’s €570 million-a-year Erasmus student exchange scheme. Ministers hail it as a golden ticket for young Brits to study and work across Europe. But Tory MPs warn this isn’t just about student exchanges – it’s a sneaky way to push EU propaganda into schools and universities from age four.
Schools Must Teach EU Integration and Fly the EU Flag
Under the new Erasmus rules, schools and colleges receiving public money must teach pupils about European integration and promote a “common European identity.” They’re also required to display the EU flag prominently and credit the EU for funding on everything from printed materials to social media. Institutions face hefty fines running into tens of thousands if they refuse.
“This is a thinly veiled attempt to brainwash children, with EU propaganda beamed right into their schools,” Tory MP Saqib Bhatti blasted. Accusing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of “mind control” tactics to reverse Brexit “by stealth,” Bhatti was echoed by MP Mike Wood who slammed Erasmus as “a Trojan horse for the EU propaganda machine.”
Backlash Hits Over Cost and No Parliamentary Vote
Critics are furious the Government slipped back into the scheme without any parliamentary debate or vote. They also slam the cost, which doubles what Boris Johnson rejected back in 2021. To pay for Erasmus, Labour plans to scrap the Turing programme, which previously helped disadvantaged British students study worldwide at a fraction of the cost. The Erasmus documents openly state the goal to promote “a common European identity” and to communicate the EU’s political priorities — giving Tories more ammo to claim it’s about politics, not education.
Labour Defends Move, Eyes Closer EU Ties
Downing Street insists schools remain legally neutral despite the obligations. A Government spokesman said, “Erasmus will offer hundreds of thousands of young people life-changing opportunities to travel and study abroad.” The controversy forms part of a wider row over Labour’s drive to shift UK-EU relations. Senior Labour figures openly push for closer ties, with one minister calling it “patriotic.” Sir Keir Starmer points to tense relations with the US and a changing global landscape as reasons to cosy up with Brussels again.
