Having led a debate just last week in which I bemoaned various government policy decisions – such as cuts in real terms to the UKRI budget, the shelving of the exascale supercomputer in Edinburgh, and a general lack of investment in specialist teachers – as ‘risks to our mathematical future’, I had hoped that the Chancellor would use this week’s Spending Review to address some of these issues.
Evidently, this was wishful thinking. While the decision to award ‘up to £750 million for a new supercomputer at Edinburgh University’ would seem a welcome U-turn on one particular policy, the Government has in fact stripped around £50 million from the project’s original budget, and the £31 million facility that the university already built before the project’s cancellation has been gathering dust since last year.
This is just one example of the Government’s tendency towards short-termism when it comes to true investment in the mathematical sciences. Throwing money at headline-grabbing projects with no underlying strategy to nurture the sector for years to come. Although ‘universities’ were mentioned seven times in the Spending Review, there was no recognition of the financial crisis affecting the sector.
Who is going to take up the Government’s AI talent scholarships and tech expert programmes if higher education institutions are forced to close their mathematics departments? And who is going to encourage young people to pursue higher education in mathematics if our supply of specialist teachers is waning? Long term strategy is fundamental if we are to achieve the growth that the Government is proposing.
The critical role that mathematics plays in our national life is often overlooked, despite being essential to our security, economy, and future prosperity.
A current talking point is defence – to which mathematics is absolutely central. It underpins cybersecurity and cryptography, and powers the satellite systems that support military operations. In announcing the Strategic Defence Review, the Defence Secretary spoke of the growing importance of cyber warfare – a domain shaped by equations, algorithms, and advanced modelling. Emerging technologies like quantum computing and AI, both key to future defence strategy, are rooted in the mathematical sciences. GCHQ in Cheltenham is one of the largest employers of mathematicians in the country.
But the influence of mathematics goes far beyond this. It plays a critical role in many aspects of daily life – often unseen, but deeply embedded.
Mathematical modelling guided our national response to the Covid-19 pandemic and enabled the vaccine breakthroughs that saved lives. In the fight against climate change, mathematical analysis is essential to understanding the scale of the crisis and shaping solutions. Everyday technologies such as GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile payments depend on sophisticated algorithms. The beloved characters of many a Pixar film owe their existence to the mathematics of 3D modelling, linear algebra, and topology.
And, of course, artificial intelligence, the focus of increasing government investment, is built entirely on the mathematical sciences. The ambition to lead in AI is welcome, but it must be matched by serious investment in the mathematics that makes it possible.
At present, that alignment is missing. As Professor Marcus du Sautoy put it, “the UK government wants a Ferrari but doesn’t want to buy the fuel that drives it.”
We urgently need a National Strategy for Mathematics: a framework that supports mathematical talent from primary school through to research and innovation. It should bring together departments across government, ensuring that our ambitions in AI, science, education, and defence are all built on a solid foundation.
Such a strategy would reflect the real value of mathematics to our country. Not just in the £495 billion it already contributes to the UK economy, but in the countless ways it shapes our daily lives, from smartphones to secure payments to national defence.
I was proud to lead this Parliament’s first debate on this vital topic. But now we need more than words. The UK has the expertise and potential to be a global leader in the mathematical sciences. The Government must now commit to that future.
Securing the UK’s Future: Why Mathematics Matters
