As the leader of a party rooted in the traditions of the Enlightenment, I like to think there is a spirit that we share. Liberalism as a political creed flows directly from the world-view first elevated during the Enlightenment. That man is a rational creature capable of change through knowledge. That observation and experiment are the building blocks of progress. That while dogma and myth entrench illegitimate authority, scientific inquiry brings truth and with it the possibility of freedom.

Liberals therefore naturally understand that a society’s evolution is determined by its inventors. It was new methods in medicine that tamed cholera. The printing press that accelerated literacy. The internet that provides previously unimaginable access to information for millions of people.

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Honesty on funding; an end to arbitrary impact assessment; better science education; evidence based policy-making; libel reform. Five guarantees which I hope reflect the Liberal Democrat commitment to science, maths, engineering and technology. And our recognition of your immense importance to this country’s future.