Summary
Here’s a roundup of today’s news, as Thérèse Coffey launched the government’s latest plan to reduce water pollution, and the science secretary met the EU to negotiate rejoining the EU’s science and research scheme.
Thérèse Coffey has been accused of a “dereliction of duty”, on the day she launched the government’s cleaner water plan.
“There’s no way we can stop pollution overnight,” she said. She said critics who said they could solve the problem were “either detached from reality or being definitively dishonest with the public”.
David Black, who chairs the water regulator, Ofwat, has suggested that water company bosses’ pay should be linked to performance.
The science and technology secretary, Michelle Donelan, has said that the UK will commit to joining the EU’s Horizon research programme as an associate member only on “the right terms”.
Ministers are developing contingency plans for a “bold alternative” to the EU Horizon Europe as it appears to be playing hardball over reentry.
Keir Starmer celebrated three years since he was elected Labour party leader by travelling to Burnley to see a sporting initiative to keep people out of crime.
Starmer said that the public does not think the government’s attempts to tackle antisocial behaviour are making any difference.
“The government sometimes likes to pretend that it doesn’t really exist or it doesn’t really impact on people,” he said.
Labour is 23-points ahead in latest opinion polling by Ipsos, with two-thirds of people wanting an end to more than a decade of Conservative-led governments at the next general election.
Young people could be disfranchised in the local elections next month because of inadequate attempts by the government to make them aware of new voter ID rules, according to the Electoral Reform Society.
Thanks for following along – we’ll be back tomorrow. Have a good evening.
Updated
Some reaction to Lisa O’Carroll’s story about the opening of negotiations between the UK and EU over rejoining the Horizon Europe science and research programme (see 15:41).
The Royal Society has warmly welcomed the start of talks between the UK and the EU to get Britain back into the flagship €80bn Horizon Europe flagship research programme.
It follows a meeting in Brussels between science secretary Michelle Donelan and European innovation commissioner Mariya Ivanova Gabriel to end a two year lockout after the Brexit row over Northern Ireland.
Sir Adrian Smith, the president of the Royal Society, said, “The new start, at last, to hopefully final negotiations on the UK’s association to the EU’s research programmes, is good news for science and innovation and for the UK’s long-term prosperity and wellbeing.
“The government has repeatedly said that association is the preferred outcome, and I am delighted that the secretary of state in the newly created Department of Science, Innovation and Technology is so clearly committed to making it a reality. We wish her well and look forward to both sides working towards a deal as quickly as possible.”
Updated
