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Scientists for Labour

{{Short description|UK socialist society promoting science in politics}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox organisation

|name = Scientists for Labour

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|abbreviation = SfL

|formation = 1994

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|leader_title = Chair

|leader_name = Izzy Creed{{cite web | url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703035044/https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl | archive-date=3 July 2022 | title=About SFL }}

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|affiliations = Labour Party

|website = {{URL|https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/}}

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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.{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Scientist of Labour}}{{Cite web|last=Schofield|first=Kevin|date=2020-01-29|title=EXCL Gordon Brown backs Ian Murray's bid to become deputy Labour leader|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/excl-gordon-brown-backs-ian-murrays-bid-to-become-deputy-labour-leader|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Politics Home}} 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. SfL organise a range of events, including panel discussions, networking meetings, and collaboration.

History

Scientists for Labour was founded in 1994 by the Scottish molecular virologist Willie Russell,{{Cite web|date=2018-11-12|title=Obituary: Prof Willie Russell, molecular virologist, founder of Scientists for Labour, and Boys' Brigade visionary|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituary-prof-willie-russell-molecular-virologist-founder-scientists-labour-and-boys-brigade-visionary-221926|access-date=2021-04-04|website=The Scotsman}} 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,{{Cite journal|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/386314a0|title=UK parties differ on means, not ends|first=David|last=Dickson|date=March 1, 1997|journal=Nature|volume=386|issue=6623|pages=314–315|via=www.nature.com|doi=10.1038/386314a0|bibcode=1997Natur.386..314D |s2cid=4372642 |url-access=subscription}} though it is still a policy that the group supports.{{Cite web|last=Inge|first=Sophie|date=April 7, 2020|title=Labour scientists call for cabinet-level shadow science role|url=https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-politics-2020-4-labour-scientists-call-for-cabinet-level-shadow-science-role/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Research Professional News}} During the 2000s, the group submitted evidence on science policy to the Science and Technology Select Committee.{{Cite web|date=January 2005|title=House of Commons - Science and Technology - Written Evidence - Appendix 98 - Memorandum from Scientists for Labour|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmsctech/220/220we124.htm|access-date=2021-04-04|website=publications.parliament.uk}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation began to publish regular reports on the science around COVID-19, including both daily briefings{{Cite web|title=Scientists for Labour and COVID-19|url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/covid-19-1|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Scientist of Labour}} 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,{{Cite web|date=2020-05-28|title=Keir Starmer thanks Scientists for Labour volunteers|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bakYeNjKkHk|access-date=2021-04-04|via=www.youtube.com}} and former Prime Minister Dr. Gordon Brown HonFRSE.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhiu-zBmN34|title=Gordon Brown: Scientific collaboration in a post-brexit world|via=www.youtube.com}} These reports have been on topics such as the impact of COVID-19 on BAME communities in the U.K.,{{Cite web|last=Lawrence|first=Baroness Doreen|date=April 2020|title=An Avoidable Crisis - The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities|url=https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5f5bdc0f30fe4b120448a029/5f973b076be4cadc5045fad3_An%20Avoidable%20Crisis.pdf|access-date=2021-04-04}} the Scottish government's handling of COVID-19,{{Cite web|last=Christie|first=Kevan|date=2020-05-22|title=UK and Scottish Government's failed to prepare for pandemic says new report|url=https://www.scotsman.com/health/coronavirus/uk-and-scottish-governments-failed-prepare-pandemic-says-new-report-2862481|access-date=2021-04-04|website=The Scotsman}} the importance of ensuring that research can continue in spite of pandemic conditions,{{Cite web|last=Buckley|first=Joe|date=2020-04-21|title=Scientists for Labour: What we're doing, and how you can help|url=https://labourlist.org/2020/04/scientists-for-labour-what-were-doing-and-how-you-can-help/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=LabourList}} the importance of the transparency in government scientific advice,{{Cite web|last=Inge|first=Sophie|date=April 23, 2020|title=Labour Pushes Government To Publish Its Science Advice|url=https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-politics-2020-4-labour-pushes-government-to-publish-its-science-advice/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Research Professional News}} and the importance of maintaining links with European scientists both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite journal|title=COVID-19 shows UK–EU collaborations are irreplaceable|first1=Benjamin|last1=Fernando|first2=Gordon|last2=Brown|first3=Emily|last3=Thomas|first4=Michael|last4=Head|first5=Paul|last5=Nurse|first6=Martin|last6=Rees|date=September 22, 2020|journal=Nature|volume=586|issue=7828|pages=200|doi=10.1038/d41586-020-02687-6|pmid=32963368 |bibcode=2020Natur.586..200F |doi-access=free}}

Previous members of the Executive Committee include the chemical physicist Benjamin J. Whitaker,{{cite web | url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316230502/https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl | archive-date=16 March 2022 | title=About SFL }} and as of July 2022 current members of the executive committee include the politician and teacher Martin Whitfield.{{cite web | url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703035044/https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl | archive-date=3 July 2022 | title=About SFL }}

National Executive Committee

The 2022-23 SfL NEC{{Cite web |title=ABOUT SFL |url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/about-sfl |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=SfL |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-03 |title=Labour scientists choose new executive committee |url=https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-politics-2022-8-labour-scientists-choose-new-executive-committee/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Research Professional News |language=en-GB}} 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

Local Branches

  • Newcastle upon Tyne Central - established in July 2020. Chaired by Juna Sathian, who is also the Membership Secretary of SfL.{{Cite web|title=LOCAL BRANCHES|url=https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/local-sfl-branches|access-date=2021-09-23|website=SfL|language=en}}
  • Ealing - established in September 2021. A wider London branch is set to be created in 2023.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.scientistsforlabour.org.uk/ Scientists for Labour]

{{UK Labour Party}}

Category:Labour Party (UK) socialist societies

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