The result of the May referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union has thrown the funding of Science and Innovation research work in the UK into an era of extreme uncertainty. As the Financial Times has commented “Few sectors have as much at stake from Brexit as the UK’s science base. Indeed it is fair to say that the country’s status as a scientific superpower rests partly on its membership of the EU.” Lord Willetts’ Whitehall Lecture comes at an important time for UK policy makers, it is eagerly anticipated and will make a major contribution to the discussion about future funding.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Willetts left the House of Commons in 2015 after 20 years having served as a Minister in several Departments and as a Cabinet Minister and joined the Resolution Foundation as Executive Chair in June 2015. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge. He is also a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, Governor of the Ditchley Foundation, Chair of the British Science Association and a member of the Council of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
In Parliament he was Minister for Universities and Science, attending Cabinet, from 2010-2014. Before that David worked at HM Treasury and the Number 10 Policy Unit. He also served as Paymaster General in the last Conservative Government. In November 2015 he became a member of the House of Lords.
Lord Willetts has written widely on economic and social policy. His most recent book ‘The Pinch’ was published in 2010.
A drinks reception will follow the lecture at 7.15 pm.
Members tickets are available by logging in.
Photos from the event
