Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has rejected accusations that she politicised Remembrance Sunday by linking the occasion to the United Kingdom rejoining the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme. She said she was horrified that the Conservative Party had chosen to make the issue a political argument on a day meant to be above party politics.

The row began when the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced on Saturday night that the UK would return to Erasmus+, saying the scheme would give a new generation the chance to build connections across Europe. Ms Nandy said that as the country remembered the immense courage of those who served, it honoured them by building the best opportunities for the next generation through closeness and collaboration with allies.

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused her of using the national occasion to make an EU membership pitch. He said Remembrance Sunday was a day for the nation to stand together in silence and honour those who gave everything for the country, and he called on Ms Nandy to withdraw the statement and apologise, describing it as tone deaf and shameful.

Speaking on Sky News on Sunday morning, Ms Nandy firmly defended her position. She said she strongly disagreed with the criticism, that it was not a time for politicking, and that the Conservatives were the only party talking about Brexit and the European Union on the day. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also criticised the timing, telling the BBC he found it very poor taste.

The government said the UK is paying £570 million to join the expanded Erasmus+ scheme, which it described as a 30 percent discount. The Gazette reported that Mr Hollinrake also objected to a reference to 80 years of peace, saying it overlooked more recent conflicts involving British forces.