A YORK MP has written to the Brexit Secretary about the future of British universities outside the EU.

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, has told David Davis that York’s universities need reassurance so they can recruit and maintain staff, attract top students, and keep their place in crucial research programmes.

He said: “Now that the triggering of Article 50 is imminent, it is crucial that we ensure higher education takes the highest of our priorities in formal negotiations with the EU. Applications for 2018/19 will begin in September and it is essential that we have clarity by this time.”

The MP recently met Koen Lamberts, Vice-Chancellor at the University of York, to talk about higher education and its future post-Brexit.

Mr Sturdy added: “Professor Lamberts was very clear that he wanted the University of York to carry on attracting world-class staff and the brightest students from Europe with as much ease as possible.”

“It is also essential that we clarify our relationship with the Horizon2020 programme and its successor as soon as possible. Britain is Europe’s powerhouse for academic research and we should play to this strength in order to ensure our universities continue to have close collaboration with Europe whilst we also build stronger bridges with outstanding universities and colleges across the globe.”

Mr Sturdy’s letter is also being sent to Jo Johnson, Universities Minister, and the York MP has also raised the issue of university funding beyond 2020 at Prime Minister’s Questions, and tabled a number of written questions to the Brexit Department.