DavidDeSchmikes
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Print media indulged JohnsonPrint media too. For the most part.
Print media indulged JohnsonPrint media too. For the most part.
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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...nners-to-uk-fails-to-attract-single-applicant“Chances that a single Nobel or Turing laureate would move to the UK to work are zero for the next decade or so,” the Nobel prize winner Andre Geim told New Scientist magazine, which first reported the news.
I think you forgot the best part of Geim's quote:Post-Brexit scheme to lure Nobel winners to UK fails to attract single applicant
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...nners-to-uk-fails-to-attract-single-applicant
That sounds like such an apt description of Brexit as a whole.The scheme itself is a joke – it cannot be discussed seriously. The government thinks if you pump up UK science with a verbal diarrhoea of optimism – it can somehow become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Fair point - world-beating bluster and cronyism.I think you forgot the best part of Geim's quote:
That sounds like such an apt description of Brexit as a whole.
Well we’ve all had enough of experts anyway. Give us some more Peppa Pig-themed boosterism instead.Post-Brexit scheme to lure Nobel winners to UK fails to attract single applicant
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...nners-to-uk-fails-to-attract-single-applicant
Why would Brexit 'drag taxes down' anyway? And how could that be a good thing for people who don't have it easy? Or would Brexit fix that as well?Really odd piece in the Tel, containing genuine rhetorical questions like 'where are these sunlit uplands?'. The guy is clearly not a total idiot -though certainly intellectually dishonest: 'As a Europhile who voted Brexit with heavy heart...'-but he seemed to fall for every bs line about Brexit- 'the idea of Brexit exerting its own gravitational pull – dragging taxes down and pushing trade up – is starting to look like a fantasy'.
Was I right to support Brexit? If this is ‘Global Britain’, I’m starting to wonder
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/25/right-support-brexit-global-britain-starting-wonder/
One plan was to slash taxes, particularly corporation tax, to attract wealth.Why would Brexit 'drag taxes down' anyway? And how could that be a good thing for people who don't have it easy? Or would Brexit fix that as well?
Oh, right, yes - the idea was that leaving the EU would give the UK more options on that front, right?One plan was to slash taxes, particularly corporation tax, to attract wealth.
I think that I addressed that point years ago because that stance never made sense when the UK weren't close to the tax floors member states agreed upon. It's not as if they were acting like Malta or even Ireland.Oh, right, yes - the idea was that leaving the EU would give the UK more options on that front, right?
I deeply disagree with the concept, but OK, fair enough then.
Yeah, I was wondering about that when I wrote my post. How much does the EU really regulate on that front? Still, the EU storngly opposed the 'Singapore on the Thames' concept, and I suppose there is something in the EU preventing member states from taking that approach? (Which I'll admit I don't full understand anyway. But I guess the general idea is to attract companies through the shitty race-to-the-bottom approach of slashing corporate taxes and releated regulations...?)I think that I addressed that point years ago because that stance never made sense when the UK weren't close to the tax floors member states agreed upon. It's not as if they were acting like Malta or even Ireland.
A large part of it was sabre-rattling to bait the EU and try and wangle concessions no doubt.Yeah, I was wondering about that when I wrote my post. How much does the EU really regulate on that front? Still, the EU storngly opposed the 'Singapore on the Thames' concept, and I suppose there is something in the EU preventing member states from taking that approach? (Which I'll admit I don't full understand anyway. But I guess the general idea is to attract companies through the shitty race-to-the-bottom approach of slashing corporate taxes and releated regulations...?)
It depends on what you are talking about some things are more technical and finance people will have a better understanding of them. But when it comes to rates it's not that deeply regulated, you have brackets with a floor and a ceiling depending on the type of goods and services. Basically like WTO rules.Yeah, I was wondering about that when I wrote my post. How much does the EU really regulate on that front? Still, the EU storngly opposed the 'Singapore on the Thames' concept, and I suppose there is something in the EU preventing member states from taking that approach? (Which I'll admit I don't full understand anyway. But I guess the general idea is to attract companies through the shitty race-to-the-bottom approach of slashing corporate taxes and releated regulations...?)
Seems you don't know who Fraser Nelson is. Intellectually dishonest is putting it mildly.Really odd piece in the Tel, containing genuine rhetorical questions like 'where are these sunlit uplands?'. The guy is clearly not a total idiot -though certainly intellectually dishonest: 'As a Europhile who voted Brexit with heavy heart...'-but he seemed to fall for every bs line about Brexit- 'the idea of Brexit exerting its own gravitational pull – dragging taxes down and pushing trade up – is starting to look like a fantasy'.
Was I right to support Brexit? If this is ‘Global Britain’, I’m starting to wonder
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/11/25/right-support-brexit-global-britain-starting-wonder/
Ah, I manage to avoid The Spectator like the plague. Just assumed he was a right wing journo whose name rang a bell as a Tel columnist.Seems you don't know who Fraser Nelson is. Intellectually dishonest is putting it mildly.
Don't worry, you are also.Wow. And I thought we were fecked up in Congress.
I mean, the bluster from the Tories is nonsensical but this isn't really far off either. Realistically, which are the top countries for Science/Scientists in the world? The USA, China, UK, Germany, Japan and France?Why wouldn't scientists want to live in a country that chose propaganda and xenophobia over facts and reasoning. Couldn't make that up.
Would be nice if those countries never chose propaganda and xenophobia over facts and reasoning but sadly that's not the case, of course But there's still a certain irony.I mean, the bluster from the Tories is nonsensical but this isn't really far off either. Realistically, which are the top countries for Science/Scientists in the world? The USA, China, UK, Germany, Japan and France?
Do all of those countries always choose facts and reasoning over propaganda and xenophobia?
Its a stupid scheme, especially because I'd imagine having nobel laureates, as good as that sounds on paper, isn't really what transforms the Scientific landscape of an institution/ country and there's always going to be less movement during a global pandemic but I don't think the primary reason for the scheme's current status is Brexit.
Shame we'll likely never see JRM thrown out of parliament, the man is a total idiot.
That bears some striking resemblance to the Brexit campaign. And thinking leading scientists (naturally very facts oriented and logical people) would be convinced by hollow phrases and promises is pretty naive.“The scheme itself is a joke – it cannot be discussed seriously. The government thinks if you pump up UK science with a verbal diarrhoea of optimism – it can somehow become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Right but UK science is genuinely amongst the best in the world. That isn't some verbal bluster, nor will it necessarily attract a German/French/Chinese Nobel laureate but its an undisputed fact.Would be nice if those countries never chose propaganda and xenophobia over facts and reasoning but sadly that's not the case, of course But there's still a certain irony.
That bears some striking resemblance to the Brexit campaign. And thinking leading scientists (naturally very facts oriented and logical people) would be convinced by hollow phrases and promises is pretty naive.
Besides that, Brexit has of course severely damaged the reputation of the country, especially among Europeans. It's not only that over 50% of the voters chose leave and thus went with the irrational choice, it's also that the government and general political landscape has left the lasting impression during the Brexit negotiations that opportunism and populism are the driving forces behind decisions, not logic or reasoning.
And many are succumbing ... I suspect its what keeps this thread goingAs much as its tempting post Brexit to stick the boot in in every way.
Anecdotally: I used to study with a guy who went on to do a PhD and some postdoc stuff on fusion energy. There's a pretty good group for that in Oxford, I think it was. Anyway, my mate had to move up Oxford for a year or two which coincided with brexit which meant he had to rush there to get in before the rules changed. Furthermore it made it more difficult to bring his partner. But that's bureaucracy, you can get around that.Right but UK science is genuinely amongst the best in the world. That isn't some verbal bluster, nor will it necessarily attract a German/French/Chinese Nobel laureate but its an undisputed fact.
Of course, that doesn't also mean that the Tories aren't talking nonsense or that they're wrong to link it to some kind of stupid 'points based immigration' they can only have because of Brexit. They could of course have done the same in the EU too.
Scientists don't spend their time going around interacting with the population at large, discussing politics. A scientist who decides to come to Imperial or Cambridge is employed directly by the university and will be funded for their research by the university, so I'm not sure what relevance opportunism will have in their actual day to day life. Same for a scientist at MIT or Sorbonne. I'm going to assume that there isn't much logic or reasoning in Trump's election or Xi's cult of personality or France's lurch to the right with Macron trying to outflank Le Pen on Islam or Japan's essentially one party rule for the last 60 years. India and Russia tend to be pretty high up on these lists too.
I think there's much than enough things to blame on Brexit, as well as more than enough reasons to shy away from moving to the UK, without trying to bring the logic or reasoning of the general populace into play I think. As much as its tempting post Brexit to stick the boot in in every way.
All of which I totally agree with and these are all valid, real-world reasons why some researchers from the EU may now think twice about coming here.Anecdotally: I used to study with a guy who went on to do a PhD and some postdoc stuff on fusion energy. There's a pretty good group for that in Oxford, I think it was. Anyway, my mate had to move up Oxford for a year or two which coincided with brexit which meant he had to rush there to get in before the rules changed. Furthermore it made it more difficult to bring his partner. But that's bureaucracy, you can get around that.
The really big issue was that a lot of the money for this fusion research collaboration came from the EU. Which UK institutions can't get their hands on after brexit.
When the money disappears and there's more hassle moving to the UK compared to, say, the Netherlands or Germany, as well as a general air of conflicting values then top (EU) researchers might choose to go elsewhere.
Another issue with this scheme that I didn't think of before but realized now: scientists mostly get the greatest prizes once they are quite advanced in their career. The Nobels are infamous for being given out decades after the fact to people in their 60s-70s-80s, of course, and it's not that bad for all major prizes; but they are general for very senior scientists that are in the final stretch. That's when these scientists are least likely to move: they are probably already at a very highly regarded institution with all kinds of privileges due to their status, will have a well-running research group, likely have well-established social lives, may have kids, and so on.Right but UK science is genuinely amongst the best in the world. That isn't some verbal bluster, nor will it necessarily attract a German/French/Chinese Nobel laureate but its an undisputed fact.
Of course, that doesn't also mean that the Tories aren't talking nonsense or that they're wrong to link it to some kind of stupid 'points based immigration' they can only have because of Brexit. They could of course have done the same in the EU too.
Scientists don't spend their time going around interacting with the population at large, discussing politics. A scientist who decides to come to Imperial or Cambridge is employed directly by the university and will be funded for their research by the university, so I'm not sure what relevance opportunism will have in their actual day to day life. Same for a scientist at MIT or Sorbonne. I'm going to assume that there isn't much logic or reasoning in Trump's election or Xi's cult of personality or France's lurch to the right with Macron trying to outflank Le Pen on Islam or Japan's essentially one party rule for the last 60 years. India and Russia tend to be pretty high up on these lists too.
I think there's much than enough things to blame on Brexit, as well as more than enough reasons to shy away from moving to the UK, without trying to bring the logic or reasoning of the general populace into play I think. As much as its tempting post Brexit to stick the boot in in every way.
It’s be fair it’s the gift that keeps on giving. One disaster after anotherAnd many are succumbing ... I suspect its what keeps this thread going
Or we live in a bubble of negativity about how the UK is perceived around the world and are probably biased(either way) by recently picking a side over Brexit.All of which I totally agree with and these are all valid, real-world reasons why some researchers from the EU may now think twice about coming here.
The awful home office processes for bringing in your partner would be a factor. Funding would be a factor. Some perception that French/Germans/Americans are ruled by logic and facts while Brits are not is now whats gonna stop a French scientist coming over and certainly not a non-EU scientist.
Christ.Liz Truss takes over.
No, Liz Truss. No miraclesChrist.
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To be fair, maybe in the british system F is excellent and A terrible.Tweet
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