Words of honour

John Taylor, director general of research councils, continues to be highly unpopular because of his handling of the siting of the synchrotron. The government has announced it will be based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

Beleaguered trade secretary Stephen Byers, whose preference was Daresbury Laboratory, blames Dr Taylor for the siting row. He is alleged to have made a deal with project partner the Wellcome Trust to have the instrument sited at RAL. Apparently, Mr Byers refers to Dr "Gung Ho" Taylor solely in terms of one-word expletives.