At the Liberal Democrats’ annual conference in Bournemouth, party leader Sir Ed Davey issued a bold call for Britain to become a safe haven for scientists fleeing President Donald Trump’s United States. In a speech that blended health policy, global politics, and sharp criticism of world leaders, Davey argued that the UK must step in to protect cancer research at a time when America appears to be retreating from science.
According to Davey, Trump’s return to the White House has brought devastating consequences for global medical progress. He accused the US President of waging an “anti-science agenda” that has already stripped away hundreds of cancer research grants once funded by the National Cancer Institute. Given that the United States is the world’s single biggest funder of cancer research, such decisions, Davey said, are “the biggest threat to the fight against cancer.”
To counter this, the Lib Dem leader unveiled a plan to introduce special discounted visas and a fellowship scheme to attract cancer researchers to the UK. He pledged that under his leadership, Britain would build a new national cancer research centre and pass a “Cancer Survival Research Act” to cement the country’s role as a leader in medical innovation.
“Come here, and finish it in the UK,” Davey said in a direct message to American scientists whose work has been halted. “We’ll set up a dedicated fellowship scheme for you, and we won’t let extortionate Home Office fees stand in your way.”
The speech also touched on controversial scientific claims emerging from Trump’s administration. Recently, Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., unveiled disputed conclusions linking autism to paracetamol use during pregnancy—a claim widely rejected by international scientists. Davey pointed to this as a dangerous example of politics meddling with evidence-based science.
The Lib Dem leader did not stop at Trump. He also lashed out at Reform leader Nigel Farage and tech billionaire Elon Musk, accusing both of undermining trust in science and medicine. At Reform’s recent conference, attendees had “enthusiastically applauded” cutting off research into medicine, something Davey labelled reckless. He went further on Musk, calling him a “criminal,” and said he was unafraid of legal consequences, insisting: “If he sues me, let’s see how he fares.”
Davey’s fiery speech signals a deliberate attempt by the Liberal Democrats to position themselves as the defenders of science, research, and healthcare in an era of political turbulence. His message was clear: while America under Trump may be shutting doors on scientists, Britain has a chance to open its own and become a world leader in the fight against cancer.
For patients, families, and researchers worldwide, the outcome of this political battle could shape the future of cancer care and medical breakthroughs for decades to come.
