Lib Dem Leader Blames Trump for AstraZeneca Investment Halt
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey accuses US pressure of forcing AstraZeneca to pause its £200m Cambridge investment, warning of an attack on Britain's pharmaceutical industry.
Accusations of US Pressure
Sir Ed Davey blames President Donald Trump's administration for AstraZeneca's decision to postpone its £200m expansion at Cambridge Biomedical Campus, describing it as "deeply troubling" and "disastrous".
Tom Keith-Roach, UK president of AstraZeneca, said the UK is "an increasingly challenging place to bring forward innovation" as the company shifts more investment to its US operations.
Jobs at Stake and Industry Concerns
The proposed expansion would have created around 1,000 jobs in Cambridge. Davey warned of an "American attack on Britain's pharmaceutical industry", and urged ministers to include drug pricing in the US-UK trade deal currently under negotiation.
The government says it has invested heavily to make the UK "the destination of choice" for life sciences, committing up to £520m to the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.
Political Context Ahead of Lib Dem Conference
Speaking ahead of the party conference in Bournemouth, Davey said the UK should strengthen ties with Europe and Commonwealth partners to counter reliance on the US. He contrasted the Liberal Democrats' pro-public healthcare stance with Reform UK's vision of a more market-driven system.
Science minister Lord Patrick Vallance acknowledged that the NHS may need to pay more for new medicines and agreed that approval processes must be accelerated. An AstraZeneca spokesperson said the company is "constantly reassessing" its investment needs.
"Davey warns US pressure is undermining Britain's pharmaceutical leadership and calls for stronger European and Commonwealth partnerships."
This topic was reported by BBC News.
Discover the latest news and current events in World News as of 17-09-2025. The article titled " Lib Dem Leader Blames Trump for AstraZeneca Investment Halt " provides you with the most relevant and reliable information in the World News field. Each news piece is thoroughly analyzed to deliver valuable insights to our readers.
The information in " Lib Dem Leader Blames Trump for AstraZeneca Investment Halt " helps you make better-informed decisions within the World News category. Our news articles are continuously updated and adhere to journalistic standards.