AFTER a damning report on the UK government's response to Covid was released, Sir Patrick Vallance has called for a “very powerful” science minister in the Cabinet.
In an interview with UKTN Radio 4, the government's chief science adviser said science should drive policies and that to at a time when world leaders are preparing to tackle climate change.
He called for the integration of science and politics. “Science must be everywhere, it cannot be left as if it is a side thing," he said.
He added: “I have nothing against the idea of a very powerful science minister, which might not go with that, and ministerial positions that speak for science.
“Don’t think that science is concentrated in one place. Science applied to politics is relevant wherever it cannot be hijacked.”
During the interview he also said that his role is not to "water down" reality of tell ministers what they like to hear rather make them understand what science is telling in the present scenario.
“My mantra for a long time during this (pandemic) has been…” You have to get there sooner than you want in terms of interventions. You have to go further than you want, and you have to go further geographically than you want ”.
“And that’s Sage’s advice. And that’s what I said. And I will say it in the future and the Prime Minister knows that’s what I think.
“And he knows that’s what I would do in this situation.”
He said action should be taken “at a time when this does not appear to be of particular concern”.
“My job is not to water it down. My job isn’t to tell them things they want to hear... it’s to make sure they understand what the science is saying at the time, what the uncertainties are, and try to make this as clear as possible," he said.
According to the damning report by MPs released on Tuesday, serious mistakes and delays on the part of the government and scientific advisers have claimed lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
English questioning rose from 20 per cent to 31 per cent, and racist jokes from 36 per cent to 41 per cent
Workplace violence against Black and ethnic minority employees rises to 26 per cent
Highlights
The Trades Union Congress surveyed 1,044 Black, Asian and ethnic minority employees. The results show clear increases in racist behaviour between 2020 and 2026.
Workers having their English questioned rose from 20 per cent to 31 per cent. Those hearing racist jokes went up from 36 per cent to 41 per cent.
Racist comments made to workers or around them increased from 31 per cent to 36 per cent.
Violence and threats
The most worrying finding involves physical threats and violence, which jumped from 19 per cent to 26 per cent.
Racist posts shared on workplace social media grew from 22 per cent to 28 per cent. Racist materials being passed around increased from 19 per cent to 25 per cent.
Beyond direct racism, many workers face unfair treatment. Nearly half (45 per cent) said they get harder or less popular jobs.
Over two in five (43 per cent) receive unfair criticism. The same number (41 per cent) stay stuck on temporary contracts.
Work conditions got worse too. Those not getting enough hours rose from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
Workers denied overtime went from 30 per cent to 37 per cent. Being kept on short-term contracts increased from 33 per cent to 41 per cent.
Direct managers cause most unfair treatment (35 per cent), followed by other managers (19 per cent).
Bullying mainly comes from direct managers (30 per cent) and colleagues (28 per cent). Racist behaviour mostly comes from colleagues (33 per cent) and customers or clients (22 per cent).
Paul Nowak, TUC general secretary, said: "Black and ethnic minority workers are facing appalling and growing levels of racism and unfair treatment in Britain. This racism is plaguing the labour market – and it's getting worse."
The TUC is calling for urgent government action to tackle the problem. The union wants ring-fenced funding for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to enforce workplace protections.
It is pushing for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting for companies with over 50 employees.
The TUC says the Employment Rights Act, which makes employers responsible for protecting workers from harassment by customers and clients, will be an important step forward.
The union also wants employers to treat racial harassment as a health and safety issue and monitor ethnicity data across recruitment, pay and promotions.