What will the Con-Lib Coalition mean for UK Science?
With the advent of a new government promising a sea change in British politics, what will the new conservative-liberal coalition’s impact be on the UK scientific industry?
In the run up to the general election David Cameron was perhaps the most vocal of the three leaders in articulating a dedicated vision for UK science and research when he declared that his policies “form the core of our vision for vibrant science and engineering sectors, and represent a clear conservative commitment to strengthening science skills, respecting science advice, maintaining the quality of our research, and creating the conditions for high-tech economic recovery”.
The tone and emphasis of Cameron’s words fit nicely with the new image and drive towards the Conservatives wanting to be seen as the progressive main stream party on green-tech and scientific issues, and for these sectors to be one of the main driving forces behind the revival of the UK economy. This is further backed up in the Conservative manifesto where there is a strong focus on the need to produce more science and engineering graduates for the UK universities which would include a £350 million commitment to fund 25,000 new masters’ degrees in these areas.
The Conservative’s manifesto also spelt out the desire to ‘Make Britain the leading hi-tech exporter in Europe’, and building on the recommendation from Sir James Dyson’s review this would be achieved through the following:
· Encouraging the establishment of joint university business and development issues;
· Initiating a multi-year science and Research budge to provide a stable investment climate for research councils;
· Creating a better focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math’s subjects in schools;
· Research and tax credits to be improved and refocused on hi-tech companies, small businesses and new start ups.
Whilst the impact of the Liberal on the new coalition government remains to be seen, it is still noteworthy to consider the standpoint the Liberals towards Science. Whilst not as explicit in spelling out a vision for Science, Nick Clegg did comment in his speech to delegates at the Royal Society on the 18th Jan 2010 where he noted that the Lib Dems would honour allocations to research budgets, as they grappled with the black hole in the nations finance’. Indeed he went on to echo the Tory parties line of a revival of UK science education being behind a new economic revival when he declared, ‘The challenge that faces us is the reinvention of our economy towards new principles. Science, math’s, engineering and technology must be at the heart of that project. We must balance our economy so that manufacturing and research are as valued as finance and consumer services’.
And so as the Conservative Liberal message seems to see the future of the UK economy as being bound up with science, engineering and hi-tech industries but above all ‘green’ - This is perhaps rather apt considering the blur of Conservative blue and liberal yellow that now presides of UK politics. We await to see how the rhetoric will now transcend itself into substantive policy.
