Protecting British Jobs and Science
Originally published by East Midlands Liberal Democrats
In advance of today's Parliamentary debate on the proposed bid by the American company Pfizer for the UK pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
Deborah Newton-Cook said:
"This is a really crucial decision for UK scientific research".
The Swedish Health Minister said yesterday, concerning previous takeovers by Pfizer in Sweden, that "that what Pfizer promises is not worth a bag (pinch) of salt".
Deborah added:
"I think that the Swedish Minister has hit the nail on the head".
"We need to protect British excellence in pharmaceutical R&D".
"This proposed takeover will have an enormous impact on UK scientific researchers and particularly for companies based in the East Midlands which are subcontractors to AstraZeneca".
"It could even impact on our expertise at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham".
Deborah said:
"The Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron MP, needs to put British scientific excellence - and our jobs- before the Chancellor George Osbourne MP's Treasury tax interests".
"The Labour Party left our country with huge debts, but the economic recovery should not be at the price of British jobs and scientific excellence in the pharmaceutical sector in the East Midlands".
"Even the takeover is criticized in the USA, because Pfizer will pay less corporate tax there if the takeover goes through".