Over the past few months, the Guardian newspaper has mounted a plucky
attempt to define a manifesto for the next government in the UK. It remains
confident that this will be a Labour government. Today, on the first day of
the Labour Party conference, the Guardian publishes its 'mock' manifesto.

Under the title "Race for Survival" it provides some wise words about
science. It features population explosion, climate change, energy crisis,
the genome, pharmaceutical industry and more. But public understanding only
belatedly makes an appearance.

"How wisely, how safely, how effectively [science and technology will
develop] will depend on political will. Science needs the informed consent
of voters and taxpayers."
"So the most important step is to educate a nation in the challenges of
tomorrow, in what science can do - and in what it cannot and should not be
expected to do. It will take both political will and technological skills to
cure the planet's ills - and that means a government boost to the teaching
of science in schools and colleges."

Nothing much wrong with that. Except there is no mention of debate or
dialogue here. No echoes from the Jenkins report. No stress on an ethical
dimension. One reading is that the Guardian is promoting a new 'deficit
model.' We should stuff the public with education, education, education to
counter a deficit of consent.

Of course, there is no hope of education breeding consent. But perhaps that
is to the media's advantage as the measured dialogue and debate of the
Jerkin's variety is unlikely to sell newspapers in the way that a good
scientific scare story can.

An opportunity wasted I think and let us hope it is not reflected in the
real party manifestos.

Andy




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