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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.[2][3] 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.[2] SfL organise a range of events, including panel discussions, networking meetings, and collaboration.

Scientists for Labour
AbbreviationSfL
Formation1994
Chair
Izzy Creed[1]
AffiliationsLabour Party
Websitewww.scientistsforlabour.org.uk

History

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Scientists for Labour was founded in 1994 by the Scottish molecular virologist Willie Russell,[4] 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,[5] though it is still a policy that the group supports.[6] During the 2000s, the group submitted evidence on science policy to the Science and Technology Select Committee.[7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation began to publish regular reports on the science around COVID-19, including both daily briefings[8] 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,[9] and former Prime Minister Dr. Gordon Brown HonFRSE.[10] These reports have been on topics such as the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities in the U.K.,[11] the Scottish government's handling of COVID-19,[12] the importance of ensuring that research can continue in spite of pandemic conditions,[13] the importance of the transparency in government scientific advice,[14] and the importance of maintaining links with European scientists both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

Previous members of the Executive Committee include the chemical physicist Benjamin J. Whitaker,[16] and as of July 2022 current members of the executive committee include the politician and teacher Martin Whitfield.[17]

National Executive Committee

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The 2022-23 SfL NEC[18][19] are as follows:

Chair: Izzy Creed

Vice Chair Policy: Conor Cooper

Vice Chair Membership: Paul Henry

Treasurer: Daniel Villar

Secretary: Avesta Afshari-Mehr

Membership Secretary: Juna Sathian

Co-Webmasters: Kartik Kavi & Avesta Afshari-Mehr

Other Committee Members: Sanjush Dalmia; Alex Greer; Martin Whitfield; Harry Stratton

Notable Members

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Local Branches

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  • Newcastle upon Tyne Central - established in July 2020. Chaired by Juna Sathian, who is also the Membership Secretary of SfL.[20]
  • Ealing - established in September 2021. A wider London branch is set to be created in 2023.

References

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  1. ^ "About SFL". Archived from the original on 3 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b "About Us". Scientist of Labour. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ Schofield, Kevin (29 January 2020). "EXCL Gordon Brown backs Ian Murray's bid to become deputy Labour leader". Politics Home. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Prof Willie Russell, molecular virologist, founder of Scientists for Labour, and Boys' Brigade visionary". The Scotsman. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  5. ^ Dickson, David (1 March 1997). "UK parties differ on means, not ends". Nature. 386 (6623): 314–315. Bibcode:1997Natur.386..314D. doi:10.1038/386314a0. S2CID 4372642 – via www.nature.com.
  6. ^ Inge, Sophie (7 April 2020). "Labour scientists call for cabinet-level shadow science role". Research Professional News. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ "House of Commons - Science and Technology - Written Evidence - Appendix 98 - Memorandum from Scientists for Labour". publications.parliament.uk. January 2005. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Scientists for Labour and COVID-19". Scientist of Labour. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Keir Starmer thanks Scientists for Labour volunteers". 28 May 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ "Gordon Brown: Scientific collaboration in a post-brexit world" – via www.youtube.com.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Christie, Kevan (22 May 2020). "UK and Scottish Government's failed to prepare for pandemic says new report". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  13. ^ Buckley, Joe (21 April 2020). "Scientists for Labour: What we're doing, and how you can help". LabourList. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  14. ^ Inge, Sophie (23 April 2020). "Labour Pushes Government To Publish Its Science Advice". Research Professional News. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  15. ^ 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. Bibcode:2020Natur.586..200F. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02687-6. PMID 32963368.
  16. ^ "About SFL". Archived from the original on 16 March 2022.
  17. ^ "About SFL". Archived from the original on 3 July 2022.
  18. ^ "ABOUT SFL". SfL. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Labour scientists choose new executive committee". Research Professional News. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  20. ^ "LOCAL BRANCHES". SfL. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
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