# Can the UK turn its life sciences strengths into global leadership?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-politics-show-1084705/can-the-uk-turn-its-life-sciences-strengths-into-global-leadership
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-politics-show-1084705/can-the-uk-turn-its-life-sciences-strengths-into-global-leadership.md
Podcast: [The Politics Show](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-politics-show-1084705)
Published: 2026-07-29T10:59:40+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/newstatesman/episodes/can-the-uk-turn-its-life-sciences-strengths-into-global-lead
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/newstatesman/e/6a69dc2f10315fd296fc08c8/media.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-politics-show-1084705/episodes/can-the-uk-turn-its-life-sciences-strengths-into-global-leadership
Duration seconds: 1059

## Resource

This New Statesman podcast episode has been fully funded by argenx and features an edited panel discussion recorded at the New Statesman’s Igniting Growth Conference. The UK has world-leading science, research and regulatory expertise, but too often struggles to turn those strengths into investment, innovation and better patient access. Can it turn its life sciences strengths into global leadership? Chaired by New Statesman policy correspondent Samir Jeraj, the panel brings together Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Naomi Weir from the CBI, David Knechtel from argenx UK and Ireland, and Clare Pelham from the Epilepsy Society. Our panel discusses why the UK’s scientific and regulatory strengths are not consistently translating into growth and patient access, as well as the commercial pressures affecting confidence in the sector. They talk about the need for more joined-up delivery across government, the NHS and industry, how innovation can reach patients, and what must change for the Life Sciences Sector Plan to deliver. LISTEN AD-FREE: 📱 Download the New Statesman app MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN: ❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday ⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning ✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-politics-show-1084705/episodes/can-the-uk-turn-its-life-sciences-strengths-into-global-leadership/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-politics-show-1084705/can-the-uk-turn-its-life-sciences-strengths-into-global-leadership.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.