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Labour has been accused of “bankrolling” the education of more EU students than British ones after striking a deal to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme at a staggering cost of up to £8.75 billion.
Tories Slam Labour’s “Drastically More Expensive” Deal
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood hit out at the agreement, warning it will be far more costly than the post-Brexit Turing scheme introduced by the last Conservative government. Mr Wood said: “Labour have agreed an inflated bill that will soar even higher over time, bankrolling the education of more EU students than British ones.”
He added: “At a time when families are struggling with the cost of living, this represents extremely poor value for British taxpayers. As ever, when Labour negotiate, Britain loses.”
Twice as Many EU Students Benefited Under Previous Erasmus
Under the old Erasmus scheme, twice as many EU students came to the UK as British students went abroad. Labour claims 100,000 students will benefit from the new deal, but critics point out this includes both UK and EU participants — with the balance heavily favouring the EU.
Brexit Reversal Under Starmer
The Erasmus+ scheme was scrapped under Boris Johnson because it was unbalanced and expensive. The Conservatives replaced it with the Turing scheme, which focused on sending more British students overseas and delivered better value for money.
Labour’s decision to rejoin forms part of Sir Keir Starmer’s wider “reset” with the EU, despite election promises not to rejoin the single market, customs union or restore freedom of movement.
- £8.75 billion cost to British taxpayers
- More EU students funded than British ones under previous scheme
- Turing scheme replaced Erasmus to protect UK interests
- Labour accused of another Brexit betrayal
- Families struggling with cost of living while billions go to EU students
Reform UK: Another Backdoor EU Re-Entry
Reform UK has repeatedly warned that Labour is dragging Britain back into the EU by the back door. The party says taxpayers’ money should be spent on British students and apprentices first, not subsidising EU education at a time when domestic budgets are under huge pressure.
What This Means for Britain
This latest deal is being seen as yet another example of Labour reversing Brexit wins and handing billions to the EU while British families face higher bills and squeezed public services. The Express “Give Us a Proper Brexit” campaign has long called for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, slash red tape and protect British interests.
With local elections just weeks away, voters are increasingly angry at the cost of Labour’s EU reset. Reform UK’s message remains clear: Britain must put British students, British taxpayers and British interests first — not bankroll the EU’s student exchange programme.
Share if you believe British taxpayers’ money should go to British students first, not EU ones.
This article is a factual summary of reporting by the Daily Express. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.
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That present bunch of political parasites, rejoicing under the name of ‘The Labour Party’, are the worst gang of nincompoops ever to have entered that Westminster dosshouse.
They are not only a DISGRACE to our political standing in the world, but a clear and present DANGER to us all all !