The direction of the UK in moving towards a hard Brexit is
meaning that British universities are “finding it harder”,
said in the House of Commons
earlier today.
Responding to a question by , Labour MP for Cambridge,
on how UK universities will be affected by Brexit, the Prime
Minister said: “And one of the areas of concern I have is that in
some areas such as university research there are some, certainly
I’m hearing some anecdotes that universities are finding it
harder because of our future.”
The Prime Minister needs to come clean and answer the following
five questions:
- Will she go into more detail about the “concerns” British
universities have raised with her about Brexit, and her response?
- In what way are British universities “finding it harder
because of our future.”
- Can she guarantee that the Government will make up any
possible shortfall due to the loss of research funding resulting
from Brexit?
- Can she confirm that UK universities are concerned about
possible loss of membership of EU programmes like Horizon 2020,
and will she commit to keeping the UK in such programmes after
Brexit?
- How will she reassure universities who are worried about the
impact of the Government’s immigration policy on recruiting staff
and attracting students from the European Union?
Commenting, MP, leading supporter of Open
Britain, said:
“The Prime Minister has let the cat out of the bag. For from
being a bed of roses, even she admits that Brexit is causing real
difficulties and concerns for British universities.
“It is hardly difficult to see why. Universities are rightly
worried about the prospect of falling out of important EU
programmes like Horizon 2020, losing access to European funding
which creates jobs and supports new technologies, and finding it
harder to attract students and staff from across the EU.
“They will be particularly worried by the Government’s absurd and
empty threat to leave the EU with no deal, which if it became
self-fulfilling would be a hammer blow for our university sector.
“ must urgently clarify her
remarks and work with British universities to ensure that they
will not be damaged by Brexit.”
/ends
Notes to editors:
For all bids and media enquiries, contact Will Cousins on 07801
231485. When using this quote, please reference the Open Britain
campaign.
The full quotes are below:
: I’m sure the PM will be
aware of the problems already being faced by our universities and
research centres because of the uncertainties around these
issues. Could she tell us what discussion she had at the Council
with other leaders about dealing with these challenges, and could
she take the opportunity today to say whether she wants us to
stay within the Horizon 2020 programme in future?
: There are a number of these
programmes and projects that the United Kingdom has been part of
and that we have benefited from, and will be part of the
negotiations as we go through. What I’m very clear about at the
moment, and the point that we have made consistently within EU
circles, is that to ensure that as long as we are in the European
Union then we should have the same ability to apply for
programmes and be part of these as has been the case previously.
And one of the areas of concern I have is that in some areas such
as university research there are some, certainly I’m hearing some
anecdotes that universities are finding it harder because of our
future. What I would say is that a long as we’re in the European
Union then we are able to apply on the same basis as we always
have been.
