Government publishes Sage membership after controversy over Boris Johnson advisor Dominic Cummings attending meetings

Dominic Cummings attended some early Sage meetings
AFP via Getty Images
Luke O'Reilly4 May 2020

The Government has published a list of the experts helping shape the response to the coronavirus pandemic as part of the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage).

Only two participants did not give permission to be named on the membership list, which included 50 members, the Government said.

Its publication came after calls for transparency over the group, with concerns raised over a lack of breadth in expertise and the presence of Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings in meetings.

Downing Street planned only to name those who consented to be on the list, raising concerns over personal security and the need to protect individuals from lobbying.

Science and technology committee chair Greg Clark welcomed the publication of the Sage list, which came alongside an “explainer” of Sage.

“I strongly welcome the commitment to transparency made by Sage in publishing the names of the members,” the Conservative MP said.

Sir David King had criticised the attendance of Downing Street advisers at Sage
AFP/Getty Images

“This was something my committee called for in order to provide public reassurance that Government decisions are informed by a broad and substantial body of expert advice.”

Transparency concerns had prompted former Government chief scientific adviser Sir David King to convene a separate “independent” panel of experts who were to meet on Monday.

Those named on the list are:

Sir Patrick Vallance FMedSci FRS - Government Chief Scientific Adviser

Professor Chris Whitty CB FMedSci - Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health and Social Care

Professor John Aston - Chief Scientific Adviser, Home Office

Professor Wendy Barclay FMedSci - Imperial College London

Professor Phil Blythe - Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Transport

Professor Ian Boyd FRS - University of St Andrews

Professor Andrew Curran - Chief Scientific Adviser, Health and Safety Executive

Dr Gavin Debrera - Public Health England

Professor Sir Ian Diamond FRSE FBA - National Statistician, Office for National Statistics

Professor Yvonne Doyle CB - Medical Director, Public Health England

Professor John Edmunds OBE FMedSci - London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar FMedSci - FRS Director, Wellcome Trust

Professor Neil Ferguson OBE FMedSci - Imperial College London

Dr Aidan Fowler FRCS - National Health Service England

Professor Julia Gog - University of Cambridge

Dr David Halpern - Behavioural Insights Team, Cabinet Office

Dr Jenny Harries OBE - Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Dr Demis Hassabis FRS - Personal capacity as a data scientist

Professor Peter Horby - University of Oxford

Dr Indra Joshi - NHSx

Professor Dame Theresa Marteau FMedSci - University of Cambridge

Professor Dame Angela McLean FRS - Chief Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Defence

Professor Graham Medley - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Andrew Morris FMedSci FRSE - University of Edinburgh

Professor Carole Mundell - Chief Scientific Adviser, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Professor Cath Noakes - University of Leeds

Dr Rob Orford - Welsh Government

Professor Michael Parker - University of Oxford

Professor Sharon Peacock FMedSci - Public Health England

Professor Alan Penn - Chief Scientific Adviser, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Professor Steve Powis FRCP - National Health Service England

Dr Mike Prentice - National Health Service England

Mr Osama Rahman - Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Education

Professor Venki Ramakrishnan PRS - Ex Officio as Chair of DELVE, convened by the Royal Society

Professor Andrew Rambaut FRSE - University of Edinburgh

Professor Tom Rodden - Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Professor Brooke Rogers OBE - Kings College London

Dr James Rubin - Kings College London

Professor Calum Semple - University of Liverpool

Dr Mike Short CBE - Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for International Trade

Dr Gregor Smith - Scottish Government Chief Medical Officer

Professor Sir David Spieglhalter FRS - University of Cambridge

Professor Jonathan Van Tam MBE - Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Professor Russell Viner PRCPCH - University College London

Professor Charlotte Watts CMG FMedSci - Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for International Development

Professor Mark Walport FRCP FMedSci - FRS UK Research and Innovation

Professor Mark Woolhouse FRSE - University of Edinburgh

Professor Lucy Yardley - University of Bristol

Professor Ian Young - Northern Ireland Executive

Professor Maria Zambon FMedSci - Public Health England

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