Science and Politics: how expert advice shapes decisions in government

Throughout the Coronavirus outbreak, the Government has said that it will be “led by the science”. But who decides the agreed scientific view, and what happens when it changes? How does expert scientific advice shape political decision making? And what happens when Government ministers decide to ignore, or overrule, scientific advice?

To discuss these issues Jill Rutter, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government, is joined by:

• Tracey Brown, Director of Sense about Science
• Professor Sir Robert Watson, former Chief Scientific Adviser in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Tom Whipple, Science Editor at The Times
• Professor James Wilsdon, Director of Research on Research Institute and Vice-Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA)

Audio production by Alex Rees

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