Nandy defends Erasmus comments amid Remembrance Sunday backlash
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy rejects accusations of politicising Remembrance Sunday after linking the event to the UK rejoining the EU's Erasmus scheme.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy denies politicising Remembrance Sunday.
- Conservatives slammed her department's statement linking the day to the EU Erasmus+ scheme.
- The UK is rejoining the student exchange program in January for £570m.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has firmly rejected accusations that she attempted to politicise Remembrance Sunday, following sharp criticism over her department linking the solemn event to the UK's return to the European Union's Erasmus scheme.
The controversy ignited late Saturday after her department posted on social media that as the nation marks Remembrance Sunday, Erasmus+ will offer a new generation fresh opportunities to build connections across Europe, drawing immediate condemnation from political opponents.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake branded the remarks as tone-deaf and shameful, calling on Nandy to issue an apology. He argued that the bonds forged by veterans run far deeper than an EU education scheme and insisted that a Labour minister should not use the day to pitch EU membership.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The Erasmus+ scheme is a flagship European student and youth exchange initiative that the UK exited following Brexit. Rejoining the program represents a significant political milestone for the current government, signaling a closer institutional reconnection with the EU that remains deeply sensitive among opposition Conservative lawmakers.
Appearing on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, Nandy stood by her initial remarks. She invoked Winston Churchill's post-World War II vision of extending a hand of friendship across Europe to honor wartime generations.
"It was Winston Churchill after the Second World War who talked about extending the hand of friendship across Europe and making sure that we honoured the legacy of that generation"
Lisa Nandy
Under the agreement, the UK will pay £570 million to rejoin the expanded scheme, which officials described as a 30% discount. The program will introduce several provisions:
- Free year-abroad university placements for UK and European students.
- Free train passes for 18-year-olds to explore EU member states.
- Targeted short-term youth exchanges focusing on less-engaged regions such as Northern England and the Midlands.
Source: BBC Politics
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