Government GPS alternative a road to nowhere- Prospect union

Responding to the government's announcement of funding for a feasibility study into a UK alternative to the Galileo satellite programme, Prospect senior deputy general secretary Sue Ferns said:

“The government shouldn’t need to spend £100m on a study to find out what should be blindingly obvious; any UK alternative to Galileo will cost billions, take years, and end up being less effective than the programme we are leaving.

“The rhetoric of ‘going it alone’ may be superficially attractive, but by pulling us out of a world leading GPS system the government is taking us on a road to nowhere.

“The priority must be keeping the UK within Galileo and maintaining effective scientific collaboration across Europe,  that requires compromises by both the UK and the European Commission.”