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Devolution confusing for companies doing rocket science, claims Conservative MP

25 May 2021 2 minute read
Wales from space. Picture by NASA. David Morris. Picture by David Woolfall (CC BY 3.0).

Devolution is hindering the development of a space industry in the UK by confusing companies who want to invest in the sector, a Conservative MP has claimed.

Writing in the Times, Lancashire MP David Morris said that the “key to saving the union could be in outer space” as it could “ensure alignment with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”.

The chair of the Parliamentary Space Committee adds that while “the UK’s devolved governments have been quick to spot the space opportunity” in reality it was “not working as well as it should” as “the UK’s existing patchwork of regulations are creating problems”.

He called on the UK Government to “set the overall direction and co-ordinate activity with the devolved governments which are in danger of heading in different directions”.

“Without this clarity and coordination, devolved administrations will seek to fill the gaps, creating confusing regulatory overlaps and generating more bewilderment for businesses trying to operate in the sector,” he says.

“With a clear space strategy in place, we can ensure alignment with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Only then can we foster a fully-fledged space economy, with a launch capability that provides the last critical link in the value chain by connecting the UK to Low Earth Orbit.

“Space could be the UK’s post-Brexit poster child, in which we not only create a world-leading industry but also unite the Union through it.”


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W. Ken Davies
W. Ken Davies
3 years ago

More centralist balderdash.

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
3 years ago

What a muppet!!

Gill Jones
Gill Jones
3 years ago

It’s not rocket science! Think about it – all you Tories are going down the right road to make the devolution process even more attractive and helping the independence vote. Great, keep it up boys.

Hanergylch
Hanergylch
3 years ago
Reply to  Gill Jones

I wonder if brain surgeons are confused by it too…

Moya
Moya
3 years ago

Goodness the Tories are scared of devolution aren’t they?
I think the U.K. will fracture ( and for me … the sooner the better.

cudyll
cudyll
3 years ago

So these companies hope to get into space but cant understand devolution. Load of twaddle. This sort of Tory rubbish is making them a laughing stock.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
3 years ago

Well the old Tories are covering all the bases, aren’t they, any excuse to attack devolution. However, all these attacks will just make the Welsh and Scottish people even more suspicious and wary of Westminster. Why don’t they focus on the benefits of th Union? Oh, I forgot – there aren’t any !

Mark
Mark
3 years ago

Do tories ever engage their brains before they open their mouths? makes you wonder how the European Space Agency manages to get anything done with so many different countries involved

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

NASA must be in chaos with all those states in the US! Come on this is idiotic drivel. Unionists in a spin!

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago

Is that the best he can do? This is a joke, surely.

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