The UK should consider importing US scientists whose cancer research projects have been cut by Donald Trump, according to Ed Davey, who will be bringing up this point at a Liberal Democrat conference. The gathering has had a strong focus on how the party can respond to right-wing populism.
In his closing speech, Davey will criticize Nigel Farage, stating that the Reform UK conference applauded Trump’s decision to reduce funding for mRNA vaccines. These vaccines are being tested for personalized immunotherapy treatment for certain cancers.
Davey plans to emphasize the cruelty and lack of intelligence in cutting off research into medicine that has the power to save so many lives. He will also criticize Farage’s party for enthusiastically supporting this decision at their conference.
Davey has consistently been a strong critic of Trump, and has been increasingly critical of Farage as the Liberal Democrats face more competition from Reform. While most of the new seats won by the Liberal Democrats in the recent election were taken from the Conservatives, the party is preparing for contests where Reform is expected to be their main competition, particularly in local elections in England next May.
In his speech, Davey will argue that there is a direct link between the cuts to mRNA vaccine research announced by Robert F Kennedy Jr, Trump’s health secretary, and Reform’s potential policies. At the Reform conference last month, the audience applauded Aseem Malhotra, a vaccine skeptic linked to Kennedy, as he presented the US plan to reduce research into mRNA technology. The General Medical Council is currently examining comments made by Malhotra in his speech.
Davey will propose that the UK should increase funding for cancer research and rebuild a National Cancer Research Institute, which was closed under the Conservatives. Calum Miller, the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, also attacked Farage and Trump in his conference speech, calling for a law to prevent ministers from lobbying on behalf of foreign governments. He cited the example of government officials pushing for the 2028 Open to be held at Trump’s Turnberry course, saying the claims needed to be investigated.
The Liberal Democrats have accused Farage of prioritizing Trump’s interests over those of the UK, as seen in his recent appearance before a congressional hearing on censorship. Speaking to reporters, Miller said the Liberal Democrats appeared to be the only party that could take on Farage. He added that the Conservative party had effectively collapsed and that Reform was benefiting from high poll numbers.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/23/ed-davey-calls-for-uk-to-import-us-cancer-researchers-hit-by-trump-cuts
