The UK government has quietly rejoined the European Union’s €570 million-a-year Erasmus student exchange programme. Ministers describe it as an excellent opportunity for young British students to study and work across Europe.
However, Conservative MPs have raised concerns that the scheme is more than just about student exchanges. They warn it is a covert method to introduce EU propaganda into schools and universities starting from age four.
Under the new Erasmus rules, schools and colleges receiving public funding must teach pupils about European integration and promote a “common European identity.” Institutions are also required to prominently display the EU flag and acknowledge EU funding on all materials, including printed documents and social media posts. Schools that refuse to comply face fines potentially reaching tens of thousands of pounds.
Conservative MP Saqib Bhatti criticised the move, calling it “a thinly veiled attempt to brainwash children, with EU propaganda beamed right into their schools.” He accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of employing “mind control” tactics to reverse Brexit “by stealth.” MP Mike Wood supported these views, describing Erasmus as “a Trojan horse for the EU propaganda machine.”
Critics have also expressed outrage that the government rejoined the scheme without any parliamentary debate or vote. They have condemned the cost, which is double the amount rejected by Boris Johnson in 2021. To fund Erasmus, Labour plans to discontinue the Turing programme, which previously enabled disadvantaged British students to study abroad at a much lower cost.
The Erasmus documents explicitly state the programme’s goal to promote “a common European identity” and to communicate the EU’s political priorities. This has given Conservative MPs further grounds to argue that the scheme is politically motivated rather than educational.
Labour defends the decision, with Downing Street insisting that schools will remain legally neutral despite the new obligations. A government spokesperson said, “Erasmus will offer hundreds of thousands of young people life-changing opportunities to travel and study abroad.”
The controversy is part of a broader debate over Labour’s efforts to strengthen UK-EU relations. Senior Labour figures have openly advocated for closer ties, with one minister describing it as “patriotic.” Sir Keir Starmer has cited strained relations with the United States and a shifting global landscape as reasons to improve relations with Brussels once again.
Originally published by UKNIP.
