‘A huge relief’: scientists react to hopes of UK rejoining EU Horizon scheme

Prof Brian Cox, pictured, said the UK’s return would ‘come as a huge relief to everyone in science, industry and universities across the UK’. Photograph: Stefano Guidi/Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Scientists including the physicist Brian Cox have reacted with a mixture of caution, anger and relief that the UK appears set to rejoin the EU’s flagship £85bn Horizon science research programme after a protracted Brexit row.

Sources indicate that an announcement could come in days, possibly next week when Rishi Sunak is scheduled to meet the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, at a Nato summit.