Scientists ‘concerned’ at PM’s silence over rejoining EU’s €95.5bn Horizon programme
Scientists have been left concerned by the prime minister’s reported “scepticism” about rejoining the EU’s €95.5bn science programme, despite the positive outcome of talks over Northern Ireland which had been blocking UK access.
“Silence is causing people really to be worried and concerned,” Professor Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society, said.
During last week’s news conference after the Windsor Framework was signed, commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she looked forward to UK and EU researchers working together again.
“The moment it’s implemented I’m happy to start immediately, right now, the work on an association agreement, which is the precondition to join Horizon Europe, so good news for all those who are working in research and science,” she said.
UK scientists were delighted.
Britain benefitted more than any other EU country from grants handed out under the Horizon programme which offered not just funding, but leadership of pan-European research groups and access to equipment and facilities.
In the two years since the UK was kicked out of Horizon, the UK government has stepped in to match EU grant money lost.
Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen signed the Windsor Framework last week. Dan Kitwood/Pool via REUTERS
But one in six grant holders decided to leave the UK in order to keep their grants – often taking teams of research colleagues with them.
Grant holders who decided to remain in the UK lost the leadership role the grants brought with them, and often the ability to attract the best talent to come and work in their labs.
“The loss is not just about money,” Prof Smith added.
“It’s partnerships. It’s frameworks. It’s the shared use of equipment. It’s the flow of bright young people. All that has gone by the wayside.”
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UK scientists are keen to see new partnerships with other nations such as the US and Japan – which the government said it is working towards – but they say turning our back on Europe would more than offset any gains.
“Wouldn’t it be best to have those close collaborations that have formed over years, and open the door to formal links with other countries?” asked Dr Teresa Thurston, who studies infectious disease at Imperial College, London.
“I don’t see why you’d want to have one and not the other.”
Many in the research and development business sector believe losing scientific ties with Europe undermines the government’s stated aim to become a “science superpower” as core to economic recovery.
The CBI has called an association with the EU Horizon programme a “win-win”.
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Sky News understands the government will remain vague about what it plans to do until final negotiations with the EU over the Windsor Framework are complete.
But after more than two years of uncertainty, UK scientists are growing impatient.
“The minister for science and the new secretary of state [for Science Innovation and Technology] have indicated very, very clearly that association is the goal,” said Prof Smith.
“We now need that clearly stated by the prime minister.”
UK drivers are “confused” by the country’s electric car transition, ministers are being warned.
Although most drivers are not hostile towards electric vehicles (EVs), many are confused about what changes are coming and when, according to new research from the AA.
In a survey of more than 14,000 AA members, 7% thought the government was banning the sale of used petrol and diesel cars.
Around a third thought manual EVs exist, despite them all being automatic.
More than one in five said they would never buy an EV.
The government’s plan for increasing the number of electric vehicles being driven in the UK focuses heavily on increasing the supply of the vehicles.
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What you can do to reach net zero
In 2024, at least 22% of new cars and 10% of new vans sold by each manufacturer in the UK had to be zero-emission, which generally means pure electric.
Each year, those percentages will rise, reaching 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans in 2030.
Manufacturers will face fines of £15,000 per vehicle if electric vehicle sales fall short of 28% of total production this year.
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By 2035, all new cars and vans will be required to be fully zero emission, according to the Department for Transport.
Second-hand diesel and petrol cars will still be allowed to be sold after this date, and their fuel will still be available.
There are more EVs – but will people buy them?
In February, 25% of new cars were powered purely by battery and in January, they made up 21% of all new cars registered in the UK.
But despite the growth of electric sales, manufacturers continue to warn that the market will not support the growth required to hit government EV targets, and called for consumer incentives and the extension of tax breaks.
The AA suggested the government’s plan focuses on “supply but does little to encourage demand for EVs”.
It called on ministers to co-ordinate a public awareness campaign alongside the motoring industry which directly targets drivers who doubt the viability of EVs.
“Our message to government is more needs to be done to make EVs accessible for everyone,” said Jakob Pfaudler, AA chief executive.
Which? head of consumer rights Sue Davis said: “When it comes to making sustainable choices such as switching to an electric car, our research shows that people are often held back by high costs, complex choices or uncertainty.
“The government needs to provide the right information on electric vehicles and other sustainable choices so that people have the confidence to switch.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We’re investing over £2.3bn to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to EVs.
“This includes installing a public charge point every 28 minutes, keeping EV incentives in the company car tax regime to 2030, and extending 100% first-year allowances for zero-emission cars for another year.
“Second-hand EVs are also becoming cheaper than ever, with one in three available under £20,000 and 21 brand new models available for less than £30,000.
“We’re seeing growing consumer confidence as a result.”
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