Scientists for Labour

Scientists for Labour is a socialist society affiliated to the British Labour Party. It is open to supporters of the Labour Party interested or involved in UK science and technology. Notable patrons include the Nobel Prize winning geneticist, Sir Paul Nurse FRS, the businessman and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Lord David Sainsbury, and the former Prime Minister, Dr. Gordon Brown.[1][2] Its stated aims are to be a strong political voice for science, to improve the understanding of science within the Labour Party and nationally, and to advise the parliamentary Labour Party on science policy issues.[1] SfL organise a range of events, including panel discussions, networking meetings, and collaboration.

Scientists for Labour
AbbreviationSfL
Formation1994
Chair
Joe Buckley
AffiliationsLabour Party
Websitewww.scientistsforlabour.org.uk

History

Scientists for Labour was founded in 1994 by the Scottish chemist Willie Russell,[3] amongst others, to be a vehicle for scientists within the Labour Party. SfL tried to lobby the Labour Party before the 1997 UK general election to pledge the creation of a cabinet level secretary of science, something that it was unsuccessful in doing,[4] though it is still a policy that the group supports.[5] During the 2000s, the group submitted evidence on science policy to the Science and Technology Select Committee.[6] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation began to publish regular reports on th science around COVID-19, including both daily briefings[7] and long form reports. These reports have earned SfL public praise from prominent Labour figures including the Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer KCB QC MP,[8] and former Prime Minister Dr. Gordon Brown HonFRSE.[9] These reports have been on topics such as the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities in the U.K.,[10] the handling Scottish government's handling of COVID-19,[11] the importance of ensuring that research can continue in spite of pandemic conditions,[12] the importance of the transparency in government scientific advice,[13] and the importance of maintaining links with European scientists both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Members of the executive committee as of April 2021 include the chemical physicist Benjamin J. Whitaker and the politician and teacher Martin Whitfield.[1]

Local Branches
  • Newcastle upon Tyne Central - established in July 2020. Chaired by Juna Sathian, who is also the Membership Secretary of SfL.[15]
  • Ealing - established in September 2021.

References
  1. "About Us". Scientist of Labour. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Schofield, Kevin (29 January 2020). "EXCL Gordon Brown backs Ian Murray's bid to become deputy Labour leader". Politics Home. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Obituary: Prof Willie Russell, molecular virologist, founder of Scientists for Labour, and Boys' Brigade visionary". The Scotsman. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. Dickson, David (1 March 1997). "UK parties differ on means, not ends". Nature. 386 (6623): 314–315. doi:10.1038/386314a0 – via www.nature.com.
  5. Inge, Sophie (7 April 2020). "Labour scientists call for cabinet-level shadow science role". Research Professional News. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "House of Commons - Science and Technology - Written Evidence - Appendix 98 - Memorandum from Scientists for Labour". publications.parliament.uk. January 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Scientists for Labour and COVID-19". Scientist of Labour. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Keir Starmer thanks Scientists for Labour volunteers". 28 May 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via www.youtube.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "Gordon Brown: Scientific collaboration in a post-brexit world" – via www.youtube.com.
  10. Lawrence, Baroness Doreen (April 2020). "An Avoidable Crisis - The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities" (PDF). Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. Christie, Kevan (22 May 2020). "UK and Scottish Government's failed to prepare for pandemic says new report". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. Buckley, Joe (21 April 2020). "Scientists for Labour: What we're doing, and how you can help". LabourList. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. Inge, Sophie (23 April 2020). "Labour Pushes Government To Publish Its Science Advice". Research Professional News. Retrieved 4 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. Fernando, Benjamin; Brown, Gordon; Thomas, Emily; Head, Michael; Nurse, Paul; Rees, Martin (22 September 2020). "COVID-19 shows UK–EU collaborations are irreplaceable". Nature. 586 (7828): 200–200. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02687-6 – via www.nature.com.
  15. "LOCAL BRANCHES". SfL. Retrieved 23 September 2021.


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