Scottish Liberal Democrats commit to returning UK to Erasmus
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today set out his party’s commitment to returning the UK to the Erasmus Plus Programme, describing this as a crucial step in protecting the status of Scotland’s world-class universities and boosting education and skills across the country.
During a visit to Glasgow University, Mr Cole-Hamilton emphasised the damage caused by the Conservative Party’s hard Brexit, which has left the UK outside the Erasmus Plus Programme - a scheme which enables thousands of students every year to work and study across the EU.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader also discussed how the SNP have compounded problems by breaking their promise to Scottish students to bring forward a Scottish Government-run Erasmus replacement.
By returning Scotland and the rest of the UK to Erasmus, Mr Cole-Hamilton highlighted that we could protect the status of Scotland’s world-leading universities and lift up our skills and education sectors.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said:
“The Erasmus programme is a fantastic initiative that helped us forge relationships with our European friends and opened up the world for Scottish universities and students.
"We can expand opportunities for young people to study, teach and volunteer abroad by returning the UK to the Erasmus Plus programme as an associated country.
“With their bombsite Brexit, the Tories have torn up our invaluable connections with Europe. The SNP have also broken their promise to get an Erasmus replacement sorted.
“By contrast, in Wales, Liberal Democrats successfully delivered an Erasmus replacement programme, with thousands of opportunities for young people to take part in life-enriching exchanges.
“By returning us to Erasmus Plus, we can boost the reputation of our world-leading universities across the channel and throughout the continent. It will equip young people with opportunities to succeed, support our skills sector and get our economy thriving.
“Everyone knows that it's only the Liberal Democrats who will put in the work to build back our ties with Europe."