“Scientists and doctors in advisory positions face a dual obligation to the state and to the public. But what happens when the government’s integrity no longer matches your personal or professional integrity, when your public accountability seems greater than that of the politicians you advise? Do you fight from within? Do you speak out, and… Read More BMJ article questions the UK Gov’s lack of clarity between scientific advice and politics

Despite the fact that I think #DominicCummings is dangerous (because of his arrogance), he is an advisor – not a politician. He has never stood for office, nor put himself up as a particularly worthy person. Thus he should not resign on this kind of matter. He is responsible for his advice and nothing else.… Read More Calls for Dominic Cummings to resign are misplaced

The backlash against the Fergusson-Imperial model continues (e.g. this piece in the Tellegraph). Yes it would have been better if Nature had forced Fegusson to publish his code 8 years ago, then (a) he would have checked and tidied it then and (b) people would have been able to check and improve on it over… Read More Fergusson code under fire for being “a mess”

A case brought by millionaire, Simon Dolan who said: “I believe it is absolutely crucial in holding the government to account – they have introduced entirely unprecedented restrictions on basic freedoms, caused the losses of millions of jobs, destroyed businesses, incurred eye-watering amounts of debt, which will take generations to pay back, and yet they… Read More Government faces legal action over refusal to publish scientific advisory group minutes

A quote: Government scientific advisers are furious at what they see as an attempt to censor their advice on government proposals during the Covid-19 lockdown by heavily redacting an official report before it was released to the public, the Guardian can reveal. The report was one of a series of documents published by the Scientific… Read More Guardian: UK scientists condemn ‘Stalinist’ attempt to censor Covid-19 advice

Survey results commisioned by the Open Knowledge Foundation done by Survation. Quote of their results from: https://blog.okfn.org/2020/05/05/brits-demand-openness-from-government-in-tackling-coronavirus/ The poll found: 97% believe it is important that COVID-19 data is openly available for people to check 67% believe all COVID-19 related research and data should be made open for anyone to use freely 64% are now… Read More UK public demand openness from government in tackling coronavirus

Neil Fegusson is not a politician. He does not make decisions, he has never put himself up before an electorate as a particularly upstanding person. He should be judged on the quality of his advice not his behaviour or character. Once again there has been a confusion of roles here. If Fergusson had done something… Read More Resignation of Fegusson from SAGE shows confusion about roles

BBC news reports (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52542109) reveal a number of worries the advisers had about some of the strategies (such as immunity passports). Documents are available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882726/29-pre-empting-possible-negative-behavioural-responses-covid-19-antibody-testing-13042020.pdf  

Under pressure the UK government has now released the names of people in the covid19 related advisory groups (having hastily recruited some extra people). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response-membership/list-of-participants-of-sage-and-related-sub-groups