After the ‘May’-hem of the general election outcome where no single party managed to attain an overriding majority, the announcement has been made that the Conservatives will be working with (although not as a coalition) the DUP and will continue to lead the UK government as a minority government with the support of a confidence and supply arrangement.
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Conservative minority
In reaction to this announcement Mike Thompson, chief executive of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said: “We have a decisive decade ahead of us and it’s essential that a minority government does not lead to a prolonged period of uncertainty over the future direction of the country.
"We will seek to work with the new government and across parliament to make sure that the pharmaceutical industry is at the heart of Brexit negotiations.
"We will also be looking to progress on a new Life Sciences Industrial Strategy that builds upon the UK’s strengths in science and innovation, ensuring that patients, our businesses and workers, and the economy all benefit from investing in our industry’s potential.
"The government can create the best possible environment for the pharmaceutical industry by securing a NHS that embraces innovation as the route to greater productivity and sustainability; by delivering a pro-business agenda to create real opportunities for growth in jobs and economic activity; and by negotiating a Brexit deal that prioritises patients and public health.”
From a general science and innovation perspective, Chris Hamer, partner at the intellectual property attorney firm Mathys & Squire stated: “The general election results have come as a shock to the UK. It is clear that this result will cause continued uncertainty for the country, especially with regards to Brexit, economic and domestic social issues.
"The Conservative government had promised increased funding for research and development and university spin outs, as well as for a general increase in the number of scientists in the UK. Theresa May herself had put an emphasis on ‘science and innovation’. We urge the newly formed Conservative government, now with support from the DUP, to continue with this promise and to look at how best universities should use some of this funding and resource to engage with commercial enterprises and businesses.
"The potential increase in funding presents exciting opportunities but also, we believe, commercial challenges. Whilst research and fundamental knowledge are a priority for universities receiving funding, there is a need for academics to increase their commercial focus, i.e. how might their innovation be applied in the real world and where does it fit commercially? Whilst university technology transfer offices have made a start, we hope to see a greater focus on entrepreneurs and businesses (themselves benefitting from tax incentives) working with academics on how best to focus and commercialise their innovations and maximise the potential for products and services forming the basis of many spin outs.
"Whilst extra funding and resource in these areas are certainly needed, there is a need to also focus energy on developing a more balanced working relationship between the two.”
Speaking for the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA), its CEO Steve Bates commented: "Following the announcement at lunchtime today that Theresa May intends to form a government with support from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the BIA remains committed to working closely with the new government to make the UK the third global cluster for life sciences.
“The election has not delivered a parliamentary majority for a clear way forward on Brexit but both the main parties, as well as the DUP, were clear in the campaign and in their manifestos on the desire to turn the UK into the most innovative country in the world. Our sector is key to taking the UK’s outstanding science base and translating it into economic jobs and growth. Measures to support this goal should attract broad support in the new parliament.
“Getting the highly complex and technical issues associated with Brexit right is the key priority for our sector. We will continue to make our members’ expertise available to ministers and officials in the coming weeks and months. Early agreement on key issues like the regulation of medicines, the regime to enable non-UK nationals to work and contribute to the UK life science ecosystem, trade, finance support, market and intellectual property rules, will be the best way to ensure speedy and continuing global inward investment into the UK and EU. It will also be in the best interest of patients who require access to innovative healthcare.”