A WOKE qango that splurges taxpayer cash on projects such as “queer animals” and “pro-trans robots” has been slammed by the government’s spending watchdog.
After a Sun investigation laid bare eye watering spending on bonkers schemes, such as electric cars for Albanian jails, the National Audit Office today warned that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) threatens to undermine the UK’s position as a “global leader” in tech and science.
A woke qango that splurges taxpayer cash on projects such as ‘queer animals’ and ‘pro-trans robots’ has been slammed by the spending watchdog[/caption]
A damning probe by the NAO found that the country’s largest public funder of research and innovation lacks a coherent direction from ministers on its priorities.
The watchdog also blasted inefficient data systems at the UKRI, alongside a lack of “measurable objectives” which have limited effective monitoring of progress.
In the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to investing £20.4 billion into the area of research and innovation.
UKRI is responsible for allocating over £9bn of taxpayer cash.
Responding to the NAO report, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Tory chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said: “UKRI lacks any measurable objectives to track progress and does not have the right data to manage grant spending strategically.
“For the nation to remain global leaders in R&I, UKRI must do more to support its decision-makers, foster resilience, and ensure our systems can continue to respond to emerging challenges.”
