In spite of its reputation as a powerhouse of invention and academia, Britain is a country with only a single scientist in Parliament. In the final debate of term, we ask whether politicians are really the best people to run the country. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­••••••••••• PROPOSITION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­••••••••••• Tim Squirrell is the outgoing President of the Cambridge Union Society, and is distinguished from this lineup only by his impressive lack of qualifications and experience. Professor David Nutt is Chair of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs, having previously served as the chairman of the government Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. Lord Robert Winston has made a career in science, the media and politics, serving in many posts in the House of Lords and a number of universities, and presenting many BBC science series, as well as lecturing on science literacy. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­••••••••••• OPPOSITION ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­••••••••••• Andrew Miller MP has been the Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston since 1992, and is the chair of the Select Committee on Science and Technology. Sir Mark Walport has been the Government Chief Scientific Advisor since 2013, before which he was the Director of the Wellcome Trust for 10 years. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Be the first to comment