Sir Ed Davey has called on the UK government to offer discounted visas to American cancer researchers whose projects have been cut under the Trump administration, urging Britain to seize the opportunity to lead in medical innovation. Speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, Davey said the UK should “step up and say: If Trump won’t back this research, we will.” He proposed a fellowship scheme to attract US scientists, framing it as a chance to counter what he described as Washington’s “anti-science agenda.”
The proposal follows February’s decision by the US government to slash billions of dollars in overheads from biomedical research grants, a move defended as cost-saving but condemned by experts as devastating to progress. The American Society of Clinical Oncology warned it would slow breakthroughs in cancer care at a time when treatments were rapidly advancing. According to a Nature poll, three-quarters of scientists surveyed said they were considering leaving the US for Europe or Canada as a result of the cuts.
Davey linked his proposal to a wider critique of US politics, accusing both President Trump and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of pushing policies that threaten scientific progress. He said the UK had a duty to “step into the vacuum left by Trump’s anti-science agenda” and become a global leader in the fight against cancer. He also attacked Reform UK members for applauding cuts to research into mRNA vaccines, which had been studying their potential against viruses such as bird flu. Davey said it was “hard to express the cruelty and stupidity” of halting research with the potential to save countless lives.
In recent days, Davey has broadened his attacks to include Elon Musk, accusing the billionaire of inciting violence through his social media platform X. He urged Ofcom to take action against Musk and dismissed legal threats, calling him a “craven coward.” Musk responded by mocking the Liberal Democrat leader.
The party conference has seen a mix of spectacle and strategy. Former leader Tim Farron draped himself in a flag, urging activists to reclaim patriotism from the far right, while the party leadership has struck a more serious tone about positioning ahead of next year’s local elections. The Liberal Democrats, who secured a record 72 seats in the last general election, are keen to present themselves as both patriotic and pragmatic. Davey has argued his party has a moral duty to keep Nigel Farage and Reform UK from gaining power, while pushing policies such as visa incentives for scientists to reinforce their internationalist, pro-research stance.
