Liberal Democrats and university groups welcomed the government’s announcement that the UK will rejoin the EU’s Erasmus+ programme from January 2027, following a four-year absence after Brexit.Ian Sollom praised the move and urged it be the first step toward a bespoke UK–EU customs union while Joe FitzPatrick of the SNP criticised Labour for failing to admit Brexit was a mistake, and critics contrasted the return with the Turing scheme introduced under Boris Johnson.The news came as resident doctors in England began five days of strike action and Health Secretary Wes Streeting prepared to give evidence to the Commons health committee amid a busy day of parliamentary business including Unison’s leadership result, a reported Green Party defection and Prime Minister’s Questions at noon.