Labour hands EU £570m to fund middle class students’ placement years | Politics | News
The Prime Minister has approved plans to spend more than half a billion pounds a year to fund middle-class students’ gap years in Europe. This morning the Government confirmed reports that Boris Johnson will reverse part of the Brexit deal and bring Britain back into the EU Erasmus+ program for university students.
British students will be able to take advantage of the gap year travel scheme from 2027, and the Government is promoting this as an expansion of study and training opportunities abroad. However, the move would risk sparking a backlash from Brexiteers after Boris Johnson decided to abandon the scheme over the belief that it was both unfairly expensive for British taxpayers and favored middle-class students. Before Brexit, Erasmus saw twice as many EU students coming to the UK to study as British students in Europe, costing UK taxpayers more than £200 million a year.
This morning ministers confirmed that the cost to British taxpayers of rejoining Erasmus would be around £570 million for the 2027/2028 academic year alone.
This includes a 30% discount; however, this only applies to the first year of membership, so costs may increase thereafter.
It was reported that ministers requested a 50% discount for the first year, but this request was rejected by Brussels negotiators.
Announcing plans to rejoin the programme, EU affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds described it as “a huge win for our young people”.
“Breaking down barriers and expanding horizons to ensure that everyone from all walks of life has the opportunity to study and study abroad.
“This is about more than just travel: it’s about future skills, academic success and ensuring the next generation has access to the best possible opportunities.
“Today’s agreements prove that our new partnership with the EU is working. We focused on public priorities and delivered a deal that puts opportunities at the forefront.”
Today’s announcement also confirms that the Government has agreed to begin negotiations on electricity market integration with the EU and has set a deadline to agree a food and drink trade agreement and carbon markets linking next year.
In recent weeks, a number of Government ministers have confirmed that this is part of the Government’s plan to start overturning Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
Some have also suggested Sir Keir Starmer may be willing to break another hard-line manifesto promise not to rejoin the EU customs union.
