A shadowy figure indeed

It seems the Tories have not forgotten about science after all.

Ever since Robert Key, the generously sized choral-singing MP for Salisbury, was moved from the post last year, no one in the party has been able to tell us who the new Shadow Science Minister is. But after much behind-the-scenes ferreting, we have discovered - from someone outside the party - that Charles Hendry, MP for Wealden, has been given the shadow science brief. Given that Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown will whip on a lab coat for a science photoshoot faster than we can spark up a Bunsen burner, and that issues such as climate change look set to dominate the political agenda, it seems sensible that they have put someone in charge.

But might we suggest a little less secrecy and a little more policy?