Dropping off the Erasmus program is especially bad for the younger Britons. This is probably the EU program that has done the most to create a European identity for several generations of Europeans who have studied in another country. Not to mention the thousands of bi-national families: another side effect.

A few months ago the UK government was still promising that access to Erasmus would be preserved:

"There is no threat to the Erasmus scheme. UK students will continue to enjoy exchanges with our European friends and partners (and vice versa)"

Johnson earlier this year 👇 answering a PMQ from @DougChapmanSNP

Turns out he was doing what he does best

Lying pic.twitter.com/mXLusfOdxZ

— Alex Taylor (@AlexTaylorNews) December 24, 2020

The proposed replacement (named after Alan Turing) doesn't have the same breadth:

I have sent many students on exchange to all these countries, and to about 20 European countries covered by ErasmusPlus. A worthwhile experience for all but the idea of replacing #ErasmusPlus exchanges with Aus/NZ/Canada comes with problems: 1 https:/t.co/NfHxUMIddj

— Prof Paul James Cardwell (@Cardwell_PJ) December 15, 2020