A pathway back to Europe
Burnham starts to alleviate Brexit fallout for students
On the 27th of October 2026, the British government confirmed that the United Kingdom will rejoin the EU Erasmus+ scheme as of the 1st of January 2027. Ten years after the initial referendum vote to leave the European Union, this milestone marks one of the first official steps in what seems to be shaping into a long journey towards potential EU reintegration for the United Kingdom. Years after the initial departure from the European Union, which occurred under Boris Johnson’s administration, Britain is now confronted with the realities of what a post-Brexit environment entails - cumulative economic decline of 6%, restricted movement and overall administrative strain on the country.
Although recent political discourse regarding the idea of ‘Brentry’ has become increasingly prevalent, particularly since Andy Burnham entered 10 Downing Street, the pragmatic reality of what this could look like for the UK is still left unclear and will require careful navigation - and so we are left with the question: what does this all actually mean?
Firstly, it is worth noting that a complete and instant upheaval of the current post Brexit framework in the foreseeable future remains highly unlikely. Burnham has rejected the idea of formal institutional membership through re-entry into the EU before the next general election in an effort to stay aligned with the 2024 manifesto in which the Labour Party were elected. He has stressed that although:
he has to be particularly mindful of adhering to democratic boundaries, as without a public mandate this could erode public trust. Consequently, it seems more plausible to suggest that a realistic reintegration strategy should prioritise progressive, functional change over sweeping institutional change.
By implementing initiatives, such as youth mobility schemes, like the Erasmus+, and industry specific alignments, policy change can be made to bridge the gap between the UK and the EU without reigniting the flames of already politically divisive discourse, for example rejoining the Single Market which is already a controversial debate.
The most viable path for Britain to heal the post Brexit divide seems to take a more steady and phased approach: a reminder that EU reintegration is a marathon not a sprint. In other words, the most important aspect of the entire reintegration process is its sustainability, this must take precedence over trying to rush political timelines.
To add some context, the post-Brexit era has long been characterised by compounding factors that have made it increasingly more challenging for British students to study or work abroad - such as difficulties getting visas, freedom of movement within the EU and schemes that facilitated a reciprocal pipeline of young talent within the EU. For students in particular, the benefits which EU reintegration could bring are particularly promising when looking at tangible change in the near future.
The most recent win for policy change in this regard, as mentioned earlier, is the rejoining of the Erasmus+ Scheme, which will come into effect early next year. The UK government, which expects that over one hundred thousand participants will take part annually, has welcomed this opportunity for not only undergraduate university students, but also for other higher educational programmes such as apprenticeships and vocational courses.
The Erasmus+ framework will help to remove financial barriers such as visa and living expenses and inflated tuition costs, granting young British students foreign alternatives and giving them a fighting chance at being globally competitive after they graduate. Not only this, but it will also give them the opportunity to gain invaluable and enriching life experience living abroad.
Burnham seems to be keen on keeping his options relatively open as he suggests at some point Britain could “go all the way”, however it is paramount that all pathways are considered and that the wishes of the British public are at the forefront of policy decisions. Burnham is actively shifting the narrative from what once was a ‘Remain vs. Leave’ binary debate into something that takes a more nuanced approach and looks at what will be best for the British people. This shift in the debate is vital for younger people as it means that they can access more benefits of having these EU ties without having to necessarily overcome institutional hurdles which once restricted them.
Even though Britain will not be categorically a member of the EU within the next few years at the very least, the dialogue surrounding EU reintegration has been a pivotal moment in foreign policy for the UK. Opening up the conversation to move past short term policies and rebuild the UK’s relationship with the EU is not only an economic imperative for long term growth, but more notably an investment for British generations to come. A strengthened economy and close European relations will secure a wealth of new opportunities for the youth of Britain - interlinking its future, once again, with its European neighbours.
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