UK Plans to Rejoin Erasmus+ and Strengthen Ties with Europe Under Labour
The UK is set to rejoin the Erasmus+ youth exchange programme in December 2025, covering further education students, apprentices, youth, and school groups, with a focus on expanding participation among disadvantaged young people. This move reflects a shift under Labour leader Keir Starmer towards closer ties with Europe. Senior Labour figures acknowledge that Brexit harmed the economy and indicate readiness to reverse aspects of the Brexit deal.
Public support for rejoining Erasmus is high: a YouGov survey found 65% in favour and 12% opposed, continuing a trend of strong backing from previous years (61% in 2020). Brexit's costs have been widely debated, with critics pointing to the £570m Erasmus cost. Broader estimates suggest the UK’s GDP is 6–8% below potential and that up to £90bn per year in tax revenue is lost. Approximately 16,400 firms have left EU trade as a result of Brexit-related disruptions.
Illustrating Brexit-related trade friction, an incident at Calais involved inspections blocking four refrigerated lorries carrying around £650,000 worth of Scottish lamb, highlighting issues with misaligned standards and border controls, though the stand-off was eventually resolved. The UK government aims to secure a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to boost trade with the EU and remove border checks; the National Sheep Association expresses optimism about reaching an agreement within about 18 months.
Trade with the US also features in these developments, with potential allowances for up to 13,000 tonnes of US beef per year if it meets UK standards. Some UK farmers remain wary of such deals, especially as former US President Donald Trump pushes for a broader US-UK trade agreement that could complicate ongoing negotiations with the EU.
Overall, rejoining Erasmus+ is viewed as a first step in reconnecting Britain with Europe, reversing the isolation brought on by Brexit and realigning the UK on trade, defence, and identity.
