Spending Review uncertainty
15 Oct 2015 by Evoluted New Media
On Saturday 9th October 2010, tourists bustled around Westminster, as they usually do, taking pictures of Big Ben and peering through the gates of Downing Street.
On Saturday 9th October 2010, tourists bustled around Westminster, as they usually do, taking pictures of Big Ben and peering through the gates of Downing Street.
Except on that sunny afternoon they were treated to a less expected and much more unusual sight. Hundreds of scientists in their lab coats waving placards outside the Treasury, shouting at George Osborne to protect science in the looming cuts. London – and perhaps the world – had never seen anything like it.
I was there as a PhD student. The mood was jolly but there was a real feeling amongst the crowd that our already-underfunded research base was facing doom. Public spending was to be slashed and the signs were that science was not to be spared.
The outcome of that Spending Review was a flat-cash settlement for the science budget. There was initial relief but with inflation and the redefinition of what the budget covers, our sector has been squeezed. We have also seen a roller-coaster ride of ad hoc capital investment.
Unfortunately we are right back in that cloud of uncertainty and worry as this autumn’s Spending Review approaches to determine Government spending for the next five years. Despite the Prime Minister’s and the Chancellor’s warm words, they have refused to rule out cuts to science. We hear that it is to be “prioritised but not protected”.
So it is time for the science community to come together once more and make the case for investment in science. George Osborne and the Secretary of State for Business will be making decisions over the next month that will affect every university, every lab, and every researcher. They need to hear our voices.
You can help by writing to your MP to tell them how important science and engineering are to our economy and to meeting the needs of our society, like safer medicines and cleaner energy sources. Ask them to lobby ministers to protect research from the cuts.
The campaign group Science is Vital, which organised the 2010 protest, is also inviting the whole research community to come together once again on the 26th October. The event will feature top scientists, broadcasters, entertainers, economists, and friends and beneficiaries of science making the case for UK research to the audience and the media. You can attend to add your voice or organise your own party locally and link to Science is Vital’s rally through video link up.
CaSE will be doing its bit working with the media and holding meetings with politicians to put forward our arguments for greater investment. But we need you to do your bit too so make some noise. Your next job might just rely on it!
You can find contact details of your MP at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/
Further details of the Science is Vital event are available at http://scienceisvital.org.uk/as-vital-as-ever/
Author: Dr Martin Turner is Policy Advisor, Campaign for Science and Engineering at CaSE, the Campaign for Science and Engineering.
