Lisa Nandy has been accused of “disrespecting” Britain’s war heroes after using a Remembrance Sunday message to promote closer ties with the European Union. The Culture Secretary highlighted the UK’s return to the Erasmus+ student exchange programme as she paid tribute to those who served in the First and Second World Wars. But veterans and senior Conservatives criticised the decision to bring the Government’s relationship with the EU into a message marking one of the most important days in the military calendar.

Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman, said: “Our veterans’ sacrifice is not a prop for Labour’s EU agenda. Suggesting that Brexit broke the bonds they helped forge – and that Erasmus will fix them – is outrageous, downplaying their bravery and the significance of what they did. Those ties run far deeper than any particular EU project.

“Remembrance Sunday is a day for the nation to stand together in silence and honour those who gave everything for our country. It is not a day for a Labour minister to try to make an EU membership pitch. Our veterans did not fight for a student exchange scheme. Using their sacrifice to clear a £570m cheque to Brussels is tone deaf and frankly shameful. Lisa Nandy should withdraw this release and apologise.”

Ms Nandy’s department linked the return to Erasmus+ with efforts to “repair” Britain’s relationships with Europe, saying veterans had helped to secure strong links with the continent after the Second World War. It said Nandy believed “we owe it to our brave veterans to repair these relationships with our friends in Europe” by returning to Erasmus+.”

Britain left the student mobility programme following Brexit but is set to rejoin in 2027. Ms Nandy said: “This Remembrance Sunday, we come together to reflect and honour the sacrifices that our Armed Forces made in the First and Second World Wars, and continue to make today.

The Culture Secretary highlighted the UK’s return to the Erasmus student exchange programme (Image: Getty)

“We are about to raise the first generation for whom fighting a war really is part of history. Our future generations must know the significance of those who served in our national story, that they forged a path for friendship and cooperation that meant no one in our country has had to fight a war since.”

She added: “In that spirit, this Government is building stronger, better ties with our EU neighbours. After six years away, the UK rejoining the Erasmus+ programme is a clear symbol of our ambition and intent.”

Her department said it had secured a 30% discount on the cost of UK participation in Erasmus+ for 2027, which it claimed would save taxpayers around £240million.

Peter Sharples, founder and chief executive of the Veterans Institute, said Brexit had “no relevance to the veterans sector”, pointing to Britain’s continued membership of NATO.

He said: “It’s the one day of the year that no one should say anything, and just honour the fallen. It is a time to come together for a very sombre weekend.

Many argue that Remembrance Day should just be used to honour the fallen (Image: Getty)

“We all have political opinions – but let’s put the politics aside for this weekend. No one wants to hear we’ve got a 30 per cent discount on Erasmus Plus.”

Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, described Nandy’s remarks as “rather tone deaf”.

He said: “On Remembrance Sunday, it is not about Erasmus or anything like that – it is all about remembering and commemorating the people who made the supreme sacrifice. The focus of that should not be taken away by the Government.”

The row comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham pushes for a closer relationship between Britain and the EU.

Mr Burnham is due to attend a UK-EU summit in Brussels on November 20, where the Government hopes to make progress on trade, security, migration and other areas of cooperation.

Lisa Nandy ‘Disrespecting War Heroes’ with New EU Membership Pitch

The debate over Britain’s relationship with the European Union has once again become a major political controversy following comments made by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy ahead of Remembrance Sunday. She has faced criticism from Conservative politicians and veterans after linking Britain’s return to the Erasmus+ student exchange programme with the sacrifices made by British soldiers during the First and Second World Wars. Critics have accused her of using an important national day of remembrance to promote Labour’s closer relationship with Europe. The controversy has also reignited wider disagreements about Brexit, national sovereignty and the future direction of British politics.

The dispute began when Nandy announced that Britain would officially rejoin the Erasmus+ programme in January 2027, six years after leaving the scheme as part of Boris Johnson’s Brexit agreement. The programme allows students, apprentices, teachers and young people to study, train and gain work experience in European countries. The government believes that returning to Erasmus+ will create valuable opportunities for younger generations and strengthen Britain’s cultural, educational and economic relationships with European neighbours. Nandy described the decision as an important symbol of the government’s ambition to rebuild closer connections with Europe.

However, the timing and language of her announcement attracted considerable criticism. In a statement released ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Nandy argued that Britain’s veterans had helped establish strong relationships with European countries through their sacrifices during the Second World War. She suggested that the country had a responsibility to honour their legacy by strengthening international cooperation and creating opportunities for future generations. Her department also stated that Britain needed to repair relationships with European neighbours following years of political separation.

These comments provoked an angry response from Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake. He accused Nandy of using the sacrifices of British veterans to promote Labour’s European political agenda. He argued that soldiers who fought and died during the world wars did not make those sacrifices for a student exchange programme or closer political cooperation with Brussels. He also questioned the decision to connect Remembrance Sunday with the government’s financial commitment to Erasmus+, arguing that the occasion should be reserved for remembering the fallen rather than promoting political achievements.

The criticism was also supported by several veterans and former military figures. Peter Sharples, chief executive of the Veterans Institute, argued that Brexit had little relevance to the veterans sector and that Remembrance Sunday should remain a solemn occasion dedicated to honouring those who served. Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, described Nandy’s remarks as inappropriate in the context of the commemorations. These reactions demonstrate the sensitivity surrounding the use of military history in contemporary political debates.

Nandy, however, strongly rejected the accusations. She said she was horrified by the suggestion that her comments were disrespectful to veterans and described the criticism as political point-scoring. She argued that remembering the sacrifices of previous generations should involve more than attending annual ceremonies. In her view, Britain should also work to preserve the peace, friendship and international cooperation that emerged after the Second World War. She maintained that providing young people with opportunities to understand European history and develop relationships with other countries was a meaningful way of respecting the legacy of those who fought for freedom.

The return to Erasmus+ is part of a wider effort by the Labour government to improve Britain’s relationship with the European Union. The programme was originally established to encourage educational exchanges between European countries and has helped millions of students gain international experience. Britain left the scheme in 2020 following Brexit and introduced its own Turing Scheme as an alternative. However, the government has now decided that participation in Erasmus+ offers broader opportunities for British students and educational institutions.

Under the new arrangements, the government expects more than 100,000 people to benefit from the programme. Universities, schools, colleges, youth organisations and sports groups will be able to participate in international exchanges. Apprentices and further education students will also have opportunities to undertake work placements with European businesses. In addition, the government has announced funding to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access international educational opportunities.

The government has also negotiated a 30 per cent reduction in participation fees for 2027, which ministers estimate will save British taxpayers approximately £240 million. Around £400 million will be made available through the British Council to support educational and youth initiatives. These arrangements are intended to ensure that international exchanges are not limited to wealthy university students but become accessible to people from different social and economic backgrounds.

Nevertheless, the financial implications have become another source of political disagreement. Conservative politicians have questioned whether the benefits of rejoining Erasmus+ justify the cost of participation. They argue that the government should prioritise domestic public services, education and economic difficulties rather than spending substantial sums on European programmes. Supporters of the agreement, on the other hand, believe that international education can improve skills, productivity and employment opportunities, generating long-term benefits for the British economy.

The controversy also reflects a broader disagreement about the consequences of Brexit. Supporters of leaving the European Union argued that Britain would regain control over its laws, borders and economic policies. They believed that independence would allow the country to negotiate international agreements on its own terms. However, critics of Brexit argue that leaving the EU has created unnecessary barriers for businesses, students and workers while weakening Britain’s influence in Europe.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed support for developing a closer relationship with the European Union. His government is exploring opportunities for cooperation in areas including trade, food standards, energy, security and youth mobility. Burnham has also indicated that Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe should be discussed openly rather than treating the existing Brexit arrangements as permanently settled. However, closer cooperation does not automatically mean that Britain will rejoin the European Union.

Nandy herself has been more cautious about the prospect of full membership. She has stated that Britain should not rush into another debate about whether to rejoin the EU, arguing that the public does not want to repeat the divisive arguments of the 2016 referendum. Instead, she supports practical cooperation that could deliver economic and educational benefits without immediately reopening the question of membership.

Ultimately, the disagreement over Remembrance Sunday demonstrates how deeply Brexit continues to influence British politics. For some people, connecting the sacrifices of wartime generations with European cooperation is a reasonable way to celebrate the peace established after 1945. For others, using a solemn national commemoration to promote a government policy risks politicising an occasion that should unite the country.

The government must therefore communicate its European strategy carefully and respectfully. Veterans deserve recognition for their service, while younger generations deserve opportunities to learn, travel and develop international relationships. These objectives can coexist, but political leaders must recognise the importance of choosing the appropriate language and timing when discussing such sensitive historical subjects.

In conclusion, Lisa Nandy’s Erasmus+ announcement has exposed continuing divisions over Britain’s relationship with Europe and the political meaning of Remembrance Sunday. Her supporters believe that international cooperation and educational opportunities represent a positive way to honour the sacrifices of previous generations. Her critics argue that military remembrance should remain separate from contemporary political campaigns. Beyond the immediate controversy, the central question is how Britain can preserve its historical identity while developing constructive relationships with European neighbours. Whatever position politicians take on Brexit, respect for veterans, historical accuracy and democratic debate should remain essential principles in shaping the country’s future.