Lib Dem leader to use conference speech to urge extra funding for mRNA research and accuse Nigel Farage of cheering US funding reductions
The UK should import US scientists whose cancer research projects have been cut by Donald Trump, Ed Davey will argue at a Liberal Democrat conference that has focused heavily on how the party can respond to hard-right populism.
In his closing speech, Davey will also criticise Nigel Farage, saying the Reform UK conference applauded the Trump administration’s decision to slash funding for mRNA vaccines, which are being trialled as a way to offer personalised immunotherapy treatment for some cancers.
“It is hard to express the cruelty and stupidity of cutting off research into medicine that has the power to save so many lives,” Davey is expected to tell the gathering in Bournemouth on Tuesday, adding: “A decision, by the way, that was enthusiastically applauded by Farage’s party at their conference.”
Davey has long been the strongest critic of Trump among the three main Westminster leaders and has increasingly extended the criticism to Farage, reflecting the growing competition the Lib Dems face from Reform.
