CaSE welcomes Theresa May as the new Prime Minister, and examines the opportunities and challenges the new Government structure poses for UK science and engineering.
Will science thrive in the new Government?
15 Jul 2016
As the former Home Secretary since 2010 the Prime Minister has experience of engaging with the scientific community, most notably on drugs policy where CaSE commended her consideration of scientific evidence and explanation of her decision to take a different course. CaSE has taken a more in-depth look at the new Prime Minister’s science credentials here.
It is not yet clear the position her government will take on science and engineering.
CaSE Director Dr Sarah Main said:
“Theresa May wants a Britain that works for everyone, and I believe the UK’s leadership in science, engineering and research can help her make that happen. I would like the new Government to set out an ambitious vision for science and engineering to flourish and to help deliver their agenda to bring benefit to everyone. If we have a clear statement of intent from the Government, we can follow through with advice on the policies that will enable that to happen.”
The Prime Minister’s first few days in office have seen sweeping changes made across Whitehall. These changes include the Higher Education brief moving to the Department for Education (DfE), now led by Justine Greening MP, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Department for Energy and Climate Change being merged to form a new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), headed up by Dr Greg Clark MP.
Dr Clark was a former science minister under the coalition government and took part in the CaSE 2015 General Election science policy debate, hosted by the Royal Society. The current Science Minister, Jo Johnson, has retained the universities and science brief under the new PM, but will now be working under two seperate departements; DfE and BEIS. For a fuller list of the key Cabinet appointments relevant to science, see the notes below.
Commenting on the changes, CaSE Director Dr Sarah Main said:
“The sector is facing rocky times with much at stake post-Brexit and large scale reform underway in Parliament. Added to this, the departmental restructure now separates science and higher education, which are highly co-dependent. I hope Greg Clark, Justine Greening and their departments work purposefully together to keep alive the connections between business, industry and academia that enable science and innovation to thrive, and nurture the next generation to participate in and benefit from it.”
Full list of key cabinet appointments related to the science and engineering sector
The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP – Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary
- Education: Economics, Cambridge (BA), LSE (PhD)
- Elected member for Tunbridge Wells in 2005.
- Relevant past Government roles: Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government May 2015 – Jul 2016, Minister of State for Universities and Science Jul 2014 – May 2015
- EU referendum: Voted remain
- CaSE: Took part in CaSE cross party debate
Greg Clark was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 14 July 2016. He was previously the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2015 to 2016, Minister of State for Universities and Science from 2014 to 2015, and Minister of State for Cities and Constitution from 2013 to 2014. He was elected the Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells in 2005.
The Rt Hon David Davis MP – Exiting the European Union Secretary
- STEM background: Studied a joint Molecular Science and Computer Science degree at Warwick.
- Elected member for Haltemprice and Howden in 1987.
- Relevant past Government roles: Minister of State for Europe 1994-97, Shadow Home Secretary 2003-08
- EU referendum: Voted leave
David Davis was appointed Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on 13 July 2016. He was previously the Shadow Home Secretary from 2003 to 2008, Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice from 2002 to 2003, and Minister of State for Europe from 1994 to 1997. He was elected the Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden in 1987.
The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Education: PPE, Oxford
- Elected member for Runnymede and Weybridge in 1997.
- EU referendum: Voted remain
Philip Hammond was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on 13 July 2016. He was previously the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2014 to 2016, Secretary of State for Defence from 2011 to 2014, and Secretary of State for Transport from 2010 to 2011. He was elected the Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge in 1997.
The Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP– Home Secretary
- Education: History, Edinburgh
- Elected member for Hastings and Rye in 2010.
- Past Government roles: Under Secretary of State for Climate Change 2014-15, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2015-16.
- EU referendum: Voted remain
Amber Rudd was appointed Home Secretary on 13 July 2016. She was previously the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from 2015 to 2016. She was elected the Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye in 2010.
The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP – Education Secretary & Women and Equalities Minister
- Education: Economics, Southampton
- Elected member for Putney in 2005.
- Past Government roles: Secretary of State for International Development 2012-16, Secretary of State for Transport 2011-12.
- EU referendum: Voted remain
- First comprehensive school educated education secretary.
Justine Greening was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities on 14 July 2016. She was previously the Secretary of State for International Development from 2012 to 2016 and Secretary of State for Transport from 2011 to 2012. She was elected the Conservative MP for Putney in 2005.
Jo Johnson MP – Minister for Universities and Science
- Retains Universities and Science brief held since May 2015
- Elected member for Orpington in 2010.
- Past Government roles: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Business Minister 2012, Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office 2013, and headed up Number 10 Policy Unit 2013 to 2015.
- EU referendum: Voted remain
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