After the UK formally signed up for the EU’s Horizon research programme yesterday, Rishi Sunak was slammed by a senior Brexiteer.
The arrangement, which will cost the UK £2.4 billion, was part of the Windsor Framework Brexit agreement reached earlier this year to address border issues in Northern Ireland.
Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has joined Conservative former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith in criticising the decision to rejoin the EU’s Horizon programme, claiming that it benefits Brussels rather than the UK.
Mr Habib, in particular, has warned that this implies Britain is now directly subsidising and backing EU plans to establish its own army on the continent, which would be detrimental to British interests.
He also questions what value the EU can provide to the UK in scientific research when it does not have one of the world’s top universities while Britain has three.
Mr Habib said: “How can it assist us to be a member of a European-based and led research programme? There will be no exchange of ideas, the EU will merely gain free access to our know-how. Sound like a lousy deal? It is.
“But it is worse than their simply stealing our ideas. We will have to pay them for the privilege. They will steal our ideas and our cash. Admittedly we will get some of our own cash back – but not all of it.
“It could not be a worse deal; except, this is the EU, so of course it could.”
“Next time you hear Sunak blathering on about what a great deal he has done for the UK, allowing us to give our brains, our cash, and our military over the EU, know this: he is selling the UK down the drain for the benefit of the EU. He is a Europhile.
“That is also why he has appointed arch Remainer, David Cameron, as Foreign Secretary.”
The agreement has also previously been criticised by former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.
He said: “I don’t think it is value for money. We do not really control where the money is spent.
“The reality is the Horizon programme needs us more than we need it. We are the science superpower of Europe.”
A joint statement by the UK Government and EU about Britain rejoining Horizon published in September said: “Association to Horizon Europe will further strengthen and deepen links between the scientific communities in the UK and the EU, foster innovation and enable researchers to work together on global challenges from climate to health.