Jo Swinson responds to CaSE letter

We received a positive response to our letter urging candidates to champion science and engineering

The full response to our letter can be found below:

R&D investment is absolutely vital to securing the UK’s position as a world leader in science and innovation. It will also be key to providing solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face as a society, whether the climate emergency or an ageing population. 

The current Government’s commitment to 2.4% is welcome; however this would still leave the UK lagging behind other countries. I want the UK to be a world leader and that means significant investment in the infrastructure that makes it possible and of course the people. 

The Liberal Democrat Tech Commission that I am co-chairing with Dr Sue Black is looking at the skills necessary to power the future and I am grateful for CaSE’s briefing which will no doubt inform our recommendations and next steps. Migration too is an overwhelmingly positive thing for our country. As leader I would continue the fight to restore post-study work visas and ensure that the UK’s immigration system works for science and engineering. 

I look forward to working with CaSE in the future on these and other issues of importance to the scientific community