Keir Starmer refuses to rule out rejoining major EU migration scheme

Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out the possibility of the UK rejoining the Erasmus student exchange programme, a move that could form part of his proposed “reset” of post-Brexit relations with the EU.

Calls are mounting for the UK to rejoin Erasmus, which allows young people across Europe to study and work abroad, following its replacement with the domestic Turing Scheme.

Advocates argue that returning to the EU-led programme would strengthen educational and cultural ties while addressing growing concerns about youth mobility after Brexit.

Writing in The i Paper, crossbench peer Deborah Bull and Maurizio Cuttin, the UK Young Ambassador to the European Youth Forum, urged the government to reconsider its stance on both Erasmus and a potential youth mobility scheme.

“A youth mobility scheme is not a radical concept,” Bull and Cuttin wrote, highlighting that the UK already has agreements with countries such as Japan and Canada.

“Public appetite suggests it wouldn’t be difficult to broker a deal with the EU that fosters opportunities for living, working, and studying across Europe.”

The Erasmus programme is often associated with university placements, but Bull and Cuttin said there are broader benefits.

Beyond funding year-abroad placements, Erasmus supports voluntary exchanges, activism, and youth councils, offering essential financial and logistical support to grassroots organisations.

“A reset through Erasmus would provide young people with opportunities they desperately need, while fostering international collaboration,” they added.

When asked about the possibility of rejoining Erasmus, a spokesperson for Starmer said: “We’re not getting into running commentary on these issues.

“We are in conversations to rebuild our ties with European partners to tackle shared challenges in security, defence, and economic growth.”

Rejoining Erasmus reportedly comes with a price tag of €300 million (£258 million) annually.

Despite the cost, proponents see it as a valuable investment in the UK’s future, particularly for young people who feel constrained by post-Brexit restrictions.

Starmer previously expressed a desire to strengthen UK-EU relations, but has been cautious about migration-related policies.

Bull and Cuttin concluded their appeal with a warning: “The voices of young people will only grow louder as the reality of post-Brexit restrictions on their futures continues to unfold.”