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Role of SAGE to be Reviewed Over Fears Scientists Hold Too Much Power

by Michael Curzon
15 March 2021 11:07 PM

The role of SAGE is likely to be reviewed when the pandemic is over. Some Government insiders have already admitted to having “bowed to” the advisory group too often over the past year. The Telegraph has the story.

A future independent inquiry into the handling of coronavirus is expected to scrutinise SAGE and consider whether such a monolithic body should hold so much power. Members of SAGE have themselves expressed concern that the group holds too much sway over ministerial thinking and prevents alternative views being given equal weight. 

One possibility is that the Government sets up a so-called “red team” structure to challenge and check SAGE’s advice and the evidence behind it. Ministers could also demand more say over membership of the largely autonomous body, which changes with almost every meeting depending on who is invited by Sir Patrick Vallance, the Chief Scientific Adviser.

Matt Hancock has made it clear during the pandemic that SAGE’s role is kept “under review”. Formed under the last Labour Government, SAGE had, until the Covid crisis, been a largely obscure committee of scientists that was convened a handful of times each year. It was first called into action to advise on the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic, and went on to advise the Government on the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the 2016 Zika Virus outbreak and the 2018 Salisbury poisonings. 

In 2019, SAGE met just once, to discuss the feared collapse of the Toddbrook Reservoir dam in Derbyshire. However, over the course of 2020, it met 74 times.

Of particular concern is the extent to which Government officials have “bowed to” the body over the past year of madness, and the lack of a “red team” to challenge its advice, insiders say.

Worth reading in full.

Tags: SAGE

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3 Comments
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JXB
JXB
9 months ago

BEV = UXB.

21
0
Steve-Devon
Steve-Devon
9 months ago

Much of the technology being touted to deliver Net-Zero has been petulantly demanded by politicians to deliver their mad eco policies. Much of this technology has not been properly and fully tested on a trial basis but these eco politicians cannot wait for such niceties as market testing and feasibility studies they have a mad net-zero dream (nightmare?) and like a petulant screaming child are stamping their feet and screaming that this technology must deliver their agenda or else.

Given time and resources I expect technology can, in the future, deliver new transport, heating and energy solutions for society. However, to demand that it delivers it now to the time scale dictated by mad eco-politicians means we will get the ‘or else and it will not be pretty or pleasant.

18
0
Jack the dog
Jack the dog
9 months ago
Reply to  Steve-Devon

It’s worse than that- the mad politicians know all about the risks, same as we do, but they go ahead anyway.

There will be a reckoning one day, and millibands head will finish on a spike.

15
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
9 months ago
Reply to  Jack the dog

Look up all our Energy ministers degree qualifications, and you will find most will have studied the Arts and Humanities, with many degrees in PPE or some sort of History.

Says it all, really.

6
-1
Smudger
Smudger
9 months ago
Reply to  Jack the dog

politicians and civil servants are maters of circling their wagons. They will have us on spikes before themselves. . That aside what I cannot understand is knowing that these explosions/ fires are happening with an increasing regularity is it not a real hazard allowing electric vehicles on car ferries and the Channel Tunnel carriers?

Last edited 9 months ago by Smudger
3
0
Less government
Less government
9 months ago
Reply to  Smudger

Yes extremely dangerous

1
0
Marcus Aurelius knew
Marcus Aurelius knew
9 months ago
Reply to  Steve-Devon

“…this technology has not been properly and fully tested..”

Dang. This rings a bell. Not Net Zero, something else.

Now, what could it be…?

Last edited 9 months ago by Marcus Aurelius knew
7
0
NeilofWatford
NeilofWatford
9 months ago

Because it’s an electric car.
A shame actually.
Spratton has one of the best Guy Fawkes displays in the country.
Why couldn’t they have waited?

Last edited 9 months ago by NeilofWatford
6
0
RTSC
RTSC
9 months ago

Lesson of the day for these people: Virtue-signalling can be dangerous.

13
0
sskinner
sskinner
9 months ago

Lets add in Hydrogen fuel.

3
0
Less government
Less government
9 months ago
Reply to  sskinner

Should be good for bonfire night

0
0
soundofreason
soundofreason
9 months ago

That garage looks like it’s part of the house. Good job the car wasn’t inside at the time.

8
0
zebedee
zebedee
9 months ago

Sounds like Korea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNo9PJP9Qa8

1
0
soundofreason
soundofreason
9 months ago

In the “More on this story” below the BBC article is a link to “Electric cars: Lords urge action on ‘misinformation’ in press” in which:

Baroness Parminter, chair of the [Lords Climate Change] committee, told the BBC that both government officials and other witnesses to the [Lords] enquiry had reported reading disinformation on the subject in national newspapers.

“We have seen a concerted effort to scare people… we have seen articles saying that cars are catching fire – but had evidence that the fire risk is absolutely the same as [petrol and diesel] cars,” she said.

Yeah, how many 2 year old prestige brand petrol cars explode?

15
0
Kone Wone
Kone Wone
9 months ago

It could have been worse; it could have been parked in the garage.

5
0
davidcraig68
davidcraig68
9 months ago

But I was told that electric cars were ‘safe’ and ‘effective’ just like the ‘miracle’ vaccines.

15
0
Norfolk-Sceptic
Norfolk-Sceptic
9 months ago

It’s terrible!

Think of the Carbon footprint if the house had burnt down! 🙂

Last edited 9 months ago by Norfolk-Sceptic
6
-1
Covid-1984
Covid-1984
9 months ago

You building insurance will go up if you own an electric car. EVs are the Betamax of the automotive industry. Avoid.

7
0
VAX FREE IanC
VAX FREE IanC
9 months ago
Reply to  Covid-1984

But Betamax was actually superior technology that wasn’t marketed as well as VHS The inverse is true of EV’s.

3
0
Wootton Whisperer
Wootton Whisperer
9 months ago
Reply to  Covid-1984

Commercial property insurers are already refusing to accept liability for fires caused by the charging of electric vehicles. I think they will soon apply this to domestic premises too.

2
0
davidcraig68
davidcraig68
9 months ago

Who needs Guy Fawkes fireworks now we have electric cars? Burning at 2,000 degrees and belching poisonous gases – much better than an old-fashioned bonfire.

0
0
Less government
Less government
9 months ago

Thermal runaway. Violent, very toxic gases, explosions, extremely high temperatures, extremely difficult to extinguish, can reignite when and where you least expect it.
Don’t kill your family and neighbours, stop virtue signalling and vote Reform.

2
0

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