A Parliamentary motion calling on MSP’s to condemn the European Commission’s abolition of the office of the Chief Scientist following pressure from Green lobby groups has achieved cross-party backing in the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish biologist, Prof Anne Glover, was appointed as the European Commission’s top scientist in 2012, however since the summer has faced pressure from Green lobby groups to quit following her backing of GM crops.
Greenpeace and eight other campaigning groups wrote to the new Commission President in the summer urging him to scrap the role as it "presented one-sided, partial opinions in the debate on the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture”
Murdo has condemned the EU’s decision believing it to be a retrograde step for science-led policy making and has cautioned against those who shut-down science that opposes their agenda.
Murdo’s motion is included at the end of this release along with current signatories.
Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“The EC’s decision not to renew the post of Chief Scientific Advisor is nothing short of scandalous. In her long and distinguished career Professor Glover has made a tremendous contribution to science and helping politicians understand its role in policy making.
“However, it is deeply concerning that Science-led policy making is being stifled at a time of extreme weather, and energy and food shortages. If Green lobby groups and pseudo-science have been allowed to trump the advice of an expert in her field then we should be very worried.
“Eco-warriors drowning out the views of scientists who don’t agree with their agenda is becoming an all too common occurrence, and I can only hope that Jean-Claude Juncker’s decision wasn’t influenced by this noisy minority.”