Scientists back Labour
A coalition of leading scientists has written to the Guardian to outline their backing for Labour in the election.
The 30 plus scientists – including luminaries such as Professor Stephen Hawking and Sir Tom Blundell of Cambridge, Professor John Coggins of Glasgow University and Professor Christopher Evans of Merlin Biosciences – said there had been a “cultural change” in Britain’s universities since 1997.
The letter of praise echoes yesterday’s letter to The Times in which leading figures from the world of business gave their backing to Labour.
The combination of Labour’s efforts has led to a “new spirit of optimism among our young scientists and engineers”, the signatories argue. They add: “the Labour government needs another term of office if we are to see the support put in place for the science and engineering base to maximise its contribution to our country’s economic, social and environmental objectives.”
The scientists pointed to a doubling of the budget of the Office of Science and Technology, a £3 billion investment in new science facilities to “start repairing the chronic under-funding of the 1980s and early 1990s” and giving incentives to universities to transfer knowledge.
This, they say, “has led to a cultural change in our universities, and funds have been made available to the technology strategy to support applied research to create competitive advantage for UK companies.”
Labour is also lauded for committing to a 10-year science and innovation strategy that would see increasing investment in public sector science at least in line with economic growth.
By contrast: “Other political parties do not refer to the major role that science and engineering can play in improving our economy and society, and while they have said they will not cut the science budget they do not appear to support the Government’s commitment to increasing investment.”
