The UK government is considering cutting funding for the Jodrell Bank…

Well-supported — high-quality sources agree

What we can confirm

Multiple reputable UK news outlets and statements from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) confirm that public funding for the e‑MERLIN network, including the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory, is being reduced to zero at the end of the current agreement in March/April 2028, putting scientific operations at Jodrell Bank at risk of closure unless alternative funding is found.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][10][11] These funding decisions are made by UKRI/STFC, which are government-funded bodies that allocate taxpayers’ money on behalf of the UK government, so the cuts constitute a government-linked funding withdrawal rather than a mere speculative consideration.[1][3][4][6] Leading astronomers, the Royal Astronomical Society, trade unions, and science commentators explicitly warn that the loss of Jodrell Bank’s capabilities would seriously harm UK physics, radio astronomy, and scientific training, describing the impact as “scientific vandalism,” a “tragedy for UK science,” and a threat that would “tear the heart out of UK science” and “leave a generation untrained.”[4][5][7][8] Given this, the claim that funding is being cut and that this would negatively affect UK science and training is strongly supported by abundant, consistent evidence from high‑quality sources.

Sources

Checked July 29, 2026 · we'll re-check as this develops