1 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:11,039 Hello, and welcome to the Physics World Weekly 2 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:11,539 podcast. 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,939 This episode features a conversation with Dave Robertson, 4 00:00:16,695 --> 00:00:17,595 who is elected 5 00:00:17,975 --> 00:00:21,195 member of the UK parliament for Lichfield 6 00:00:21,734 --> 00:00:23,515 in 2024. 7 00:00:24,214 --> 00:00:28,394 Robertson spent eight years teaching physics after studying 8 00:00:28,454 --> 00:00:31,195 the subject at the University of Liverpool. 9 00:00:31,859 --> 00:00:34,659 He then worked for a teacher's union, which 10 00:00:34,659 --> 00:00:37,539 inspired him to become a candidate for the 11 00:00:37,539 --> 00:00:38,520 Labour Party. 12 00:00:39,380 --> 00:00:41,960 He chats with Physics World's Mateen Durrani 13 00:00:42,420 --> 00:00:43,560 about his transition 14 00:00:44,020 --> 00:00:47,134 from the classroom to the committee room, and 15 00:00:47,134 --> 00:00:47,795 how parliament 16 00:00:48,254 --> 00:00:49,875 is a truly bonkers 17 00:00:50,414 --> 00:00:52,354 and truly bizarre workplace. 18 00:00:53,534 --> 00:00:56,354 Robertson has already sponsored three 19 00:00:56,814 --> 00:00:59,875 physics related events at the Palace Of Westminster, 20 00:01:00,659 --> 00:01:03,399 and he talks about his membership of various 21 00:01:03,939 --> 00:01:06,040 cross party parliamentary groups, 22 00:01:06,420 --> 00:01:08,920 including those on nuclear energy 23 00:01:09,379 --> 00:01:10,200 and space. 24 00:01:11,299 --> 00:01:14,599 Robertson has not forgotten his roots in education 25 00:01:15,344 --> 00:01:18,245 and is adamant that The UK must address 26 00:01:18,305 --> 00:01:19,284 its nationwide 27 00:01:19,905 --> 00:01:20,405 shortage 28 00:01:20,865 --> 00:01:22,085 of physics teachers. 29 00:01:22,784 --> 00:01:24,805 He also urges physicists 30 00:01:25,344 --> 00:01:27,984 to speak out about how they can help 31 00:01:27,984 --> 00:01:28,484 address 32 00:01:28,980 --> 00:01:30,840 many of the world's problems, 33 00:01:31,620 --> 00:01:32,120 notably 34 00:01:32,659 --> 00:01:33,719 climate change. 35 00:01:34,340 --> 00:01:35,480 Here's that conversation. 36 00:01:44,555 --> 00:01:46,234 So I'm delighted to be joined today by, 37 00:01:46,715 --> 00:01:47,614 Dave Robertson, 38 00:01:48,155 --> 00:01:50,575 MP. Welcome to the Physics World podcast, Dave. 39 00:01:51,435 --> 00:01:52,954 Absolutely pleasure to be here. Thank you for 40 00:01:52,954 --> 00:01:54,394 thank you for the invite. Really really looking 41 00:01:54,394 --> 00:01:55,915 forward to this. It's been a it's been 42 00:01:55,915 --> 00:01:56,954 in the diary for a couple of weeks, 43 00:01:56,954 --> 00:01:58,314 and it's got a big red circle around 44 00:01:58,314 --> 00:01:59,774 it for most of that. Oh, wonderful. 45 00:02:00,420 --> 00:02:02,500 Now you've joined an elite band of people 46 00:02:02,500 --> 00:02:04,420 who I think are members of parliament, and 47 00:02:04,420 --> 00:02:07,060 they were also physics teachers. And according to 48 00:02:07,060 --> 00:02:09,620 our records, there's also been Carol Moynihan, who 49 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:11,639 was in the Scottish National Party, 50 00:02:12,020 --> 00:02:14,674 and Leila Moran, who's currently a member of 51 00:02:14,674 --> 00:02:16,114 parliament for Liberal Democrats. So, 52 00:02:17,155 --> 00:02:18,754 but before we come to your work as 53 00:02:18,754 --> 00:02:19,414 an MP, 54 00:02:19,715 --> 00:02:20,995 I've got to ask a bit about your 55 00:02:20,995 --> 00:02:21,474 background. 56 00:02:21,794 --> 00:02:24,594 So, originally, you studied physics. So what what 57 00:02:24,594 --> 00:02:26,454 first inspired you into physics? 58 00:02:27,659 --> 00:02:29,019 Like so many people I think it was 59 00:02:29,019 --> 00:02:31,439 a it was a an inspiring physics teacher. 60 00:02:32,939 --> 00:02:33,439 The 61 00:02:34,139 --> 00:02:36,620 the gently really lit my fire in and 62 00:02:36,620 --> 00:02:38,939 around the subjects was a guy called Mark 63 00:02:38,939 --> 00:02:39,439 Calthway 64 00:02:40,114 --> 00:02:41,954 who I don't have any contact details for. 65 00:02:41,954 --> 00:02:43,234 But if you are listening, Mark, please get 66 00:02:43,234 --> 00:02:45,074 in touch. It'd be a pleasure to to 67 00:02:45,074 --> 00:02:46,215 catch up with you again. 68 00:02:46,754 --> 00:02:48,215 And I think it is that sometimes, 69 00:02:49,634 --> 00:02:51,474 like, you know, when when I was 15, 70 00:02:51,474 --> 00:02:53,500 16 years old, just just having that person 71 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:55,340 who's really excited by the subjects and kind 72 00:02:55,340 --> 00:02:56,539 of brought a look come a little bit 73 00:02:56,539 --> 00:02:58,639 of something that that really resonated with me. 74 00:02:59,099 --> 00:03:01,019 And then it became something that I absolutely 75 00:03:01,019 --> 00:03:03,580 loved. And, I had the the the immense 76 00:03:03,580 --> 00:03:05,819 privilege actually of kinda getting myself into that 77 00:03:05,819 --> 00:03:08,055 position where, hopefully, I could be that person 78 00:03:08,055 --> 00:03:08,875 for other people. 79 00:03:09,495 --> 00:03:11,915 And, you then went on to study physics 80 00:03:12,135 --> 00:03:13,495 at Liverpool. Is that right? 81 00:03:13,974 --> 00:03:15,495 How was your time there? What did you 82 00:03:15,495 --> 00:03:18,055 particularly enjoy? Which subjects did you take? Before 83 00:03:18,055 --> 00:03:20,340 we get to Puddington House, absolutely loved it. 84 00:03:20,819 --> 00:03:23,300 Loved every second of being, being in Liverpool. 85 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:26,180 It's a wonderful city, a wonderful university, an 86 00:03:26,180 --> 00:03:27,400 absolutely brilliant department. 87 00:03:28,099 --> 00:03:29,459 The if you if you ask me for 88 00:03:29,459 --> 00:03:30,659 one thing as it while I was at 89 00:03:30,659 --> 00:03:32,419 uni that that kinda jumped out, 90 00:03:32,900 --> 00:03:34,580 in my second year, 91 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:36,645 when I was up there, they offer a 92 00:03:36,645 --> 00:03:37,705 course called communicating 93 00:03:38,004 --> 00:03:38,504 science, 94 00:03:39,365 --> 00:03:39,865 which 95 00:03:40,165 --> 00:03:42,004 I'm not gonna lie to you. It sounds 96 00:03:42,004 --> 00:03:42,504 like 97 00:03:43,205 --> 00:03:44,745 an easy high percentage. 98 00:03:46,485 --> 00:03:48,165 So I I picked it because it was 99 00:03:48,165 --> 00:03:49,525 a it was a half module and I've 100 00:03:49,525 --> 00:03:50,724 got a half module slot. And I was 101 00:03:50,724 --> 00:03:52,629 kinda looking at it and saying, well, let's 102 00:03:52,629 --> 00:03:54,870 give it a go. It it sounds like 103 00:03:54,870 --> 00:03:56,629 the type of thing where you're gonna, gonna 104 00:03:56,629 --> 00:03:58,229 be able to pad your percentage a little 105 00:03:58,229 --> 00:03:58,729 bit. 106 00:03:59,430 --> 00:04:01,289 I absolutely loved it. 107 00:04:02,949 --> 00:04:05,349 And the the it was a really small 108 00:04:05,349 --> 00:04:07,004 cohort that I went through there. 109 00:04:07,805 --> 00:04:09,885 And, actually, I think that's where I kind 110 00:04:09,885 --> 00:04:11,965 of started to see that a lot of 111 00:04:11,965 --> 00:04:14,365 what I do now, which is talking to 112 00:04:14,365 --> 00:04:16,045 people and trying to take those concepts and 113 00:04:16,045 --> 00:04:17,824 try and take sometimes incredibly 114 00:04:18,845 --> 00:04:21,899 com complicated ideas and current processes and things 115 00:04:21,899 --> 00:04:24,139 I bring them down to somebody who's a 116 00:04:24,139 --> 00:04:25,660 a layman and not necessarily an expert who'll 117 00:04:25,660 --> 00:04:26,560 be able to understand. 118 00:04:27,180 --> 00:04:29,120 And in terms of what I do now, 119 00:04:29,339 --> 00:04:30,399 absolutely crucial, 120 00:04:30,779 --> 00:04:32,720 and and really, really, really important. 121 00:04:33,579 --> 00:04:35,205 But in terms of kind of the hard 122 00:04:35,205 --> 00:04:35,705 science, 123 00:04:36,245 --> 00:04:38,584 I was nuclear physics. I absolutely loved it. 124 00:04:38,964 --> 00:04:41,045 Yeah. Just really enjoyed those very, very, very 125 00:04:41,045 --> 00:04:41,785 little things. 126 00:04:42,404 --> 00:04:43,925 Without it, it had to be a standard 127 00:04:43,925 --> 00:04:45,845 model, which was a a little too mind 128 00:04:45,845 --> 00:04:46,904 bending for me. 129 00:04:47,685 --> 00:04:48,569 It still is. 130 00:04:49,290 --> 00:04:51,129 And then after Liverpool, you went to the 131 00:04:51,129 --> 00:04:53,790 University of Birmingham to do your teacher training. 132 00:04:54,170 --> 00:04:55,470 How did how did that go? 133 00:04:56,170 --> 00:04:57,689 Yeah. So I had a year out in 134 00:04:57,689 --> 00:04:58,189 between, 135 00:04:58,569 --> 00:05:00,910 as a lot of people do. And then 136 00:05:01,050 --> 00:05:02,970 I'd kinda not really got any idea what 137 00:05:02,970 --> 00:05:03,884 I wanted to do 138 00:05:04,285 --> 00:05:05,805 kind of post that. And I thought back 139 00:05:05,805 --> 00:05:07,645 to that that time at Liverpool, not communicating 140 00:05:07,645 --> 00:05:09,805 as art science course. I thought, well, actually, 141 00:05:09,805 --> 00:05:11,564 let's give it a go. So I went 142 00:05:11,564 --> 00:05:13,185 off into my PGC at Birmingham. 143 00:05:13,964 --> 00:05:16,444 Really different experience as you'd expect. I it 144 00:05:16,444 --> 00:05:17,904 it the master's level qualification, 145 00:05:18,750 --> 00:05:20,509 the way that Birmingham deliver it, then offer 146 00:05:20,509 --> 00:05:22,529 a is a PG dip head, I suppose, 147 00:05:22,670 --> 00:05:23,170 PGCE. 148 00:05:25,870 --> 00:05:27,569 But it's also incredibly, 149 00:05:28,589 --> 00:05:29,330 school based. 150 00:05:30,029 --> 00:05:31,230 So for that year, I think I I 151 00:05:31,230 --> 00:05:33,314 think we only spent nine weeks actually at 152 00:05:33,314 --> 00:05:34,914 the university the rest of the time. You're 153 00:05:34,914 --> 00:05:37,074 you're out. You're in classrooms. You're you're learning 154 00:05:37,074 --> 00:05:38,995 the trade hands on in addition to kind 155 00:05:38,995 --> 00:05:40,214 of some of the, the 156 00:05:40,675 --> 00:05:43,794 the academic underpinnings that go alongside that. So, 157 00:05:44,035 --> 00:05:45,555 and that was a wonderful year. I've spent 158 00:05:45,555 --> 00:05:48,279 some time in a few schools. Two in 159 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,519 particular where I did quite long placements, and 160 00:05:50,519 --> 00:05:52,279 absolutely loved all of that as well. And 161 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:53,560 I ended up working at one of them 162 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,100 for coming on 10. 163 00:05:55,399 --> 00:05:56,839 So what were you, what were you like 164 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,360 as a physics teacher? Were you were you 165 00:05:58,360 --> 00:05:59,899 good at it? Did you enjoy it? 166 00:06:01,204 --> 00:06:02,745 Again, loved it. 167 00:06:03,925 --> 00:06:06,185 I've got quite a big personality 168 00:06:06,724 --> 00:06:07,224 naturally. 169 00:06:08,485 --> 00:06:08,985 And 170 00:06:09,524 --> 00:06:11,764 I've got quite I'm very fortunate. I've got 171 00:06:11,764 --> 00:06:13,125 quite control of my voice, so I can 172 00:06:13,125 --> 00:06:13,625 do 173 00:06:14,050 --> 00:06:15,569 accents and silly voices and things like that. 174 00:06:15,569 --> 00:06:18,150 And I think sometimes particularly as you engage 175 00:06:18,530 --> 00:06:19,990 younger people who are, 176 00:06:20,449 --> 00:06:22,449 maybe from different backgrounds and things like that. 177 00:06:22,449 --> 00:06:24,290 It's actually I find it that hooks the 178 00:06:24,290 --> 00:06:26,530 way to go in, is absolutely brilliant or 179 00:06:26,530 --> 00:06:28,454 being able to kinda play both sides of 180 00:06:28,454 --> 00:06:30,235 a conversation if you're trying to do. 181 00:06:30,615 --> 00:06:32,935 That was was really helpful. And then, yeah, 182 00:06:32,935 --> 00:06:35,014 I always tried to, I I always tried 183 00:06:35,014 --> 00:06:37,334 to make my lessons quite loud, quite, quite 184 00:06:37,334 --> 00:06:38,394 engaging, quite, 185 00:06:38,854 --> 00:06:41,254 full, because I think sometimes when you're talking 186 00:06:41,254 --> 00:06:43,870 about particular subject like ours, there's so much 187 00:06:43,870 --> 00:06:45,470 to it and it should be exciting and 188 00:06:45,470 --> 00:06:47,810 it should be, wow, buzz up the top. 189 00:06:48,669 --> 00:06:50,349 And, yeah, I wanted to try and bring 190 00:06:50,349 --> 00:06:51,629 that across kind of in the way that 191 00:06:51,629 --> 00:06:53,149 I taught as well as the, the subject 192 00:06:53,149 --> 00:06:55,314 matter, obviously. And what what sort of ages 193 00:06:55,314 --> 00:06:57,954 did you teach, Jay? Was it, people still 194 00:06:57,954 --> 00:06:59,714 from age 11 to 18? Was it the 195 00:06:59,714 --> 00:07:02,115 full range of secondary pupils? Yeah. It was 196 00:07:02,115 --> 00:07:03,094 11 to 19. 197 00:07:04,274 --> 00:07:06,194 You don't always get, a level or in 198 00:07:06,194 --> 00:07:07,875 fact, the school I was at, most physics 199 00:07:07,875 --> 00:07:09,629 teachers have. If there's a sixth form there, 200 00:07:09,629 --> 00:07:10,289 they're automatically, 201 00:07:11,789 --> 00:07:13,949 gonna be teaching the a level. That wasn't 202 00:07:13,949 --> 00:07:14,829 the case for us. 203 00:07:15,470 --> 00:07:17,310 We I was really fortunate. I thought a 204 00:07:17,310 --> 00:07:18,589 a very, very, very big school at the 205 00:07:18,589 --> 00:07:20,189 time. It was the biggest in the country. 206 00:07:20,189 --> 00:07:20,689 So, 207 00:07:21,229 --> 00:07:23,074 kind of years seven to 11, we got 208 00:07:23,074 --> 00:07:25,314 15 forms in each year group, kind of, 209 00:07:25,714 --> 00:07:28,115 fifteen, sixteen groups. So we we'd always have 210 00:07:28,115 --> 00:07:30,274 a physics group or occasionally two in year 211 00:07:30,274 --> 00:07:30,774 12, 212 00:07:31,314 --> 00:07:33,634 but we were really well stocked physics teachers. 213 00:07:33,634 --> 00:07:35,074 I remember at one point, we were having 214 00:07:35,074 --> 00:07:36,455 a a physics group meeting, 215 00:07:36,910 --> 00:07:38,269 and there were six of us sitting around 216 00:07:38,269 --> 00:07:40,750 the table thinking, this is more than most 217 00:07:40,750 --> 00:07:41,810 cities have. 218 00:07:43,069 --> 00:07:44,589 So didn't always get the a level. Really 219 00:07:44,589 --> 00:07:46,430 look forward to teaching the a level, but 220 00:07:46,430 --> 00:07:49,069 primarily 11 to 19, but with the way 221 00:07:49,069 --> 00:07:50,189 it is. And we wanted to try and 222 00:07:50,189 --> 00:07:52,029 keep people teaching in specialism and because there 223 00:07:52,029 --> 00:07:54,154 are fewer physicists than than anything else, 224 00:07:54,774 --> 00:07:56,555 generally, it was key stage four, 225 00:07:57,014 --> 00:07:58,714 always with a bit of key stage three 226 00:07:59,254 --> 00:08:00,875 kinda sprinkled in there. And 227 00:08:01,254 --> 00:08:03,415 more more often than not, some key stage 228 00:08:03,415 --> 00:08:04,235 five as well. 229 00:08:04,789 --> 00:08:06,949 What were the, things you most enjoyed teaching, 230 00:08:06,949 --> 00:08:08,569 and what did you think was the hardest 231 00:08:08,709 --> 00:08:10,089 thing to teach in physics? 232 00:08:10,550 --> 00:08:12,729 There was always something about specific heat capacity. 233 00:08:13,669 --> 00:08:15,449 We always knew when it came to specific 234 00:08:15,589 --> 00:08:16,329 heat capacity. 235 00:08:16,949 --> 00:08:17,930 Partially because, 236 00:08:18,470 --> 00:08:19,425 the school I was at, 237 00:08:20,305 --> 00:08:22,625 the, the the area for improvement was always 238 00:08:22,625 --> 00:08:23,365 around mathematics. 239 00:08:24,704 --> 00:08:26,964 And there were lots of kind of shortcuts, 240 00:08:27,985 --> 00:08:30,704 that kids learn by in order to get 241 00:08:30,704 --> 00:08:32,964 them across lines in math and that formula 242 00:08:33,024 --> 00:08:35,769 triangle, which if I have one wish, it 243 00:08:35,769 --> 00:08:37,289 would be to destroy that for the rest 244 00:08:37,289 --> 00:08:38,029 of the system. 245 00:08:40,570 --> 00:08:41,769 Yeah. So I think when you go to 246 00:08:41,769 --> 00:08:42,909 a four term equation, 247 00:08:43,850 --> 00:08:45,210 it was very difficult for kids to use 248 00:08:45,210 --> 00:08:46,490 that, and you actually actually had to go 249 00:08:46,490 --> 00:08:49,134 back to teaching the mathematical skill as well 250 00:08:49,134 --> 00:08:50,894 as the actual science that was involved with 251 00:08:50,894 --> 00:08:51,394 it. 252 00:08:52,254 --> 00:08:54,495 And secondly, I think there's there was an 253 00:08:54,495 --> 00:08:54,995 attempt 254 00:08:55,534 --> 00:08:57,774 particularly while I was teaching. And it's a 255 00:08:57,774 --> 00:08:59,375 right it's the right attempt. It was absolutely 256 00:08:59,375 --> 00:09:00,975 the right approach to take to try and 257 00:09:00,975 --> 00:09:01,475 drag 258 00:09:01,980 --> 00:09:05,019 the coursework element rather than it being, everybody's 259 00:09:05,019 --> 00:09:06,539 going to do this experiment. You're gonna write 260 00:09:06,539 --> 00:09:07,580 it up. And here is gonna be this 261 00:09:07,580 --> 00:09:09,740 section, this section, this section. You must write 262 00:09:09,740 --> 00:09:11,179 it for your method, and there are so 263 00:09:11,179 --> 00:09:11,840 many marks. 264 00:09:12,220 --> 00:09:14,059 They wanted to take it basic much, much, 265 00:09:14,059 --> 00:09:16,634 much more on skills. So we did, this 266 00:09:16,794 --> 00:09:18,735 particular assignment called science in the news. 267 00:09:19,915 --> 00:09:22,095 And that was wonderful, and it was effectively 268 00:09:22,394 --> 00:09:23,615 a literature review. 269 00:09:24,715 --> 00:09:25,915 And kids have to go out and get 270 00:09:25,915 --> 00:09:27,995 their own research and kinda compare how that 271 00:09:27,995 --> 00:09:29,355 went, and there was a a topic that 272 00:09:29,355 --> 00:09:31,279 you'd be talking about. And that was fascinating 273 00:09:31,339 --> 00:09:33,019 and really wonderful, and you got to teach 274 00:09:33,019 --> 00:09:34,379 actually a lot of the skills that we 275 00:09:34,379 --> 00:09:36,959 wanna see kids developing when they're learning sciences. 276 00:09:37,980 --> 00:09:39,820 It was also quite challenging at times as 277 00:09:39,820 --> 00:09:40,320 well, 278 00:09:40,860 --> 00:09:42,524 just because of the nature of it. But 279 00:09:43,725 --> 00:09:45,404 And did the kids you taught, were they 280 00:09:45,404 --> 00:09:46,845 keen on physics, or did a lot of 281 00:09:46,845 --> 00:09:48,524 them think this wasn't relevant or couldn't see 282 00:09:48,524 --> 00:09:51,404 applications and thought it was just suddenly dull 283 00:09:51,404 --> 00:09:53,665 and boring to get through the school year? 284 00:09:53,725 --> 00:09:55,085 So there were two and a half thousand 285 00:09:55,085 --> 00:09:56,445 of them on-site. I'd say they were a 286 00:09:56,445 --> 00:09:56,945 range. 287 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:00,160 And and there is, and I think with 288 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,480 any subjects, there's gonna be there's gonna be 289 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:03,539 some kids who just 290 00:10:03,919 --> 00:10:06,320 don't engage just that that not their subject. 291 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,080 That's not the thing that drives them. 292 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,179 I was really fortunate that, 293 00:10:10,639 --> 00:10:12,960 I got the absolute privilege to see kids 294 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,195 get really, really, really engaged with the subject 295 00:10:15,414 --> 00:10:17,195 and go on to study at, 296 00:10:18,134 --> 00:10:20,475 I, study as a separate scientist at GCSE 297 00:10:20,695 --> 00:10:23,014 into a levels and then after university. And, 298 00:10:24,454 --> 00:10:26,214 just after the election, I, 299 00:10:27,019 --> 00:10:28,860 and and and it it'd been a a 300 00:10:28,860 --> 00:10:30,779 big emotional week for me having just won 301 00:10:30,779 --> 00:10:31,440 the election. 302 00:10:32,379 --> 00:10:33,899 One of the one of my ex pupils 303 00:10:33,899 --> 00:10:35,820 got in touch to say that, she just 304 00:10:35,820 --> 00:10:37,340 passed out that day and picked up her, 305 00:10:37,740 --> 00:10:38,240 doctorate. 306 00:10:38,779 --> 00:10:40,940 And she dropped a note into her thesis 307 00:10:40,940 --> 00:10:41,440 saying, 308 00:10:42,184 --> 00:10:44,044 thank you, mister Robertson, for being an inspiring 309 00:10:44,264 --> 00:10:45,164 physics teacher. 310 00:10:45,544 --> 00:10:45,784 And, 311 00:10:46,904 --> 00:10:49,144 yeah, that was, that that was a a 312 00:10:49,144 --> 00:10:51,065 fantastic cherry on the top of a, a 313 00:10:51,065 --> 00:10:52,524 lovely cake of that week. 314 00:10:53,705 --> 00:10:55,850 Fair enough. And then after teaching then, I 315 00:10:55,850 --> 00:10:58,490 understand you became more involved in the teaching 316 00:10:58,490 --> 00:11:00,410 union side of things. What why did you 317 00:11:00,410 --> 00:11:02,410 feel that was the right career move for 318 00:11:02,410 --> 00:11:02,990 you then? 319 00:11:04,809 --> 00:11:06,330 So yeah. I mean, in much the same 320 00:11:06,330 --> 00:11:07,855 way that I kinda I I looked at 321 00:11:07,855 --> 00:11:09,294 teaching and said, well, okay. Let's give it 322 00:11:09,294 --> 00:11:10,495 a go. Let's see where we're going here. 323 00:11:10,495 --> 00:11:12,495 It was kind of a similar move that 324 00:11:12,495 --> 00:11:13,955 that kinda pulled me across into 325 00:11:14,335 --> 00:11:15,075 trade unionism. 326 00:11:15,455 --> 00:11:17,235 I'd been our school's union rep. 327 00:11:18,014 --> 00:11:19,774 I took over from the previous head of 328 00:11:19,774 --> 00:11:20,190 physics, 329 00:11:20,750 --> 00:11:22,110 who took over from the previous head of 330 00:11:22,110 --> 00:11:22,610 chemistry. 331 00:11:23,149 --> 00:11:25,070 Apparently, that school has a thing about union 332 00:11:25,070 --> 00:11:26,450 reps being science teachers. 333 00:11:27,149 --> 00:11:27,649 And 334 00:11:28,110 --> 00:11:28,610 and, 335 00:11:29,470 --> 00:11:31,070 I think I got to a point where 336 00:11:31,070 --> 00:11:32,429 my time at that call would come to 337 00:11:32,429 --> 00:11:33,070 an end. 338 00:11:33,629 --> 00:11:36,164 They were making a raft of, voluntary redundancies. 339 00:11:37,125 --> 00:11:38,565 I kind of knew that I was looking 340 00:11:38,565 --> 00:11:39,924 for a new challenge, so I took a 341 00:11:39,924 --> 00:11:42,644 voluntary redundancy there. I did supply for about 342 00:11:42,644 --> 00:11:44,404 a year, and then, I was chatting to 343 00:11:44,404 --> 00:11:45,924 somebody who I was working with doing some 344 00:11:45,924 --> 00:11:47,365 more trade union work, and they were saying 345 00:11:47,365 --> 00:11:49,204 that this job was was there. And it 346 00:11:49,204 --> 00:11:51,269 was one of those where if I didn't 347 00:11:51,269 --> 00:11:52,789 apply for it, I've I would have regretted 348 00:11:52,789 --> 00:11:55,110 it in twenty years. And they hired me, 349 00:11:55,110 --> 00:11:56,889 and the rest is history, so to speak. 350 00:11:57,829 --> 00:12:00,230 Fair enough. And then so, yeah, as you 351 00:12:00,230 --> 00:12:01,589 said, in 2024, 352 00:12:01,589 --> 00:12:04,009 you were finally elected as member of parliament. 353 00:12:04,070 --> 00:12:05,634 I mean, that's not a sort of thing 354 00:12:05,634 --> 00:12:07,235 that is a career move, is it? I 355 00:12:07,235 --> 00:12:07,735 mean, 356 00:12:08,115 --> 00:12:09,394 you know, it must have been a bit 357 00:12:09,394 --> 00:12:11,315 of a bit of a risk deciding to 358 00:12:11,315 --> 00:12:12,835 sort of put yourself up for election. And 359 00:12:12,835 --> 00:12:14,215 how did that all work out? 360 00:12:14,595 --> 00:12:16,535 So not my first time standing for parliament. 361 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:18,799 I also stood in the same seat in 362 00:12:18,799 --> 00:12:19,620 2019. 363 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,259 I don't talk about that result. 364 00:12:23,279 --> 00:12:24,580 Lost by a lot. 365 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:27,620 But no. I I did, 366 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:29,940 again, kind of the the 367 00:12:30,335 --> 00:12:32,174 day I'd kind of left left teaching and 368 00:12:32,174 --> 00:12:34,754 kinda moved into the, tertiary sector, 369 00:12:35,455 --> 00:12:37,295 that came with a a real work life 370 00:12:37,295 --> 00:12:38,195 balance change. 371 00:12:38,575 --> 00:12:40,174 So I've got a lot more free time. 372 00:12:40,415 --> 00:12:41,774 And at that point, it was that kind 373 00:12:41,774 --> 00:12:42,975 of again, how am I giving back to 374 00:12:42,975 --> 00:12:43,715 my community? 375 00:12:45,339 --> 00:12:48,079 So from there, I joined, the Labor Party, 376 00:12:49,179 --> 00:12:51,820 and got increasingly more involved with what the 377 00:12:51,820 --> 00:12:53,039 party was doing locally, 378 00:12:53,820 --> 00:12:55,339 kinda got to a position where I was 379 00:12:55,339 --> 00:12:56,565 working with people and 380 00:12:57,205 --> 00:12:58,904 kinda driving some change there. 381 00:12:59,684 --> 00:13:00,985 And I stood for, 382 00:13:01,445 --> 00:13:03,705 election to our council in 2019. 383 00:13:04,404 --> 00:13:05,764 I was very lucky to be elected onto 384 00:13:05,764 --> 00:13:07,225 two councils in 2019. 385 00:13:07,684 --> 00:13:09,065 Stood for parliament that December. 386 00:13:09,799 --> 00:13:11,740 And then I was reelected onto the councils 387 00:13:11,879 --> 00:13:12,940 in '23. 388 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:14,220 And then 389 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:16,440 2024 rolled around and, 390 00:13:17,799 --> 00:13:19,980 that that one went better than 2019. 391 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,159 So you're you're MP for Lichfield. For people 392 00:13:23,159 --> 00:13:25,495 who don't know Lichfield, how would you describe 393 00:13:25,495 --> 00:13:26,314 that constituency? 394 00:13:27,095 --> 00:13:29,115 So it's the best constituency in the country. 395 00:13:31,495 --> 00:13:33,574 And, yes, so we are a kind of 396 00:13:33,574 --> 00:13:35,654 semi rural city. We're all semi rural city, 397 00:13:36,134 --> 00:13:36,634 in 398 00:13:37,095 --> 00:13:38,700 the kind of Northern Midlands. 399 00:13:39,179 --> 00:13:41,019 It's going south into Staffordshire, 20 miles north 400 00:13:41,019 --> 00:13:41,600 to Birmingham. 401 00:13:42,379 --> 00:13:44,860 I've really fortunate that I've got, the city 402 00:13:44,860 --> 00:13:47,419 of Lichfield itself, which is thirty, thirty five 403 00:13:47,419 --> 00:13:49,500 thousand people living in it, four miles up 404 00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:51,100 the road. I've got a the town of 405 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:53,259 Burnwood, which again, thirty, thirty five thousand people 406 00:13:53,259 --> 00:13:54,375 living in it, and then, 407 00:13:54,855 --> 00:13:55,595 a wonderful, 408 00:13:56,934 --> 00:13:59,174 rural area, Catonian Villages. We do, again, a 409 00:13:59,174 --> 00:14:01,575 very similar sized population in it. So I 410 00:14:01,575 --> 00:14:02,394 get to see, 411 00:14:02,934 --> 00:14:05,014 you know, city, town, and village all in 412 00:14:05,014 --> 00:14:07,414 one constituency in it. It's a lot of 413 00:14:07,414 --> 00:14:07,914 fun. 414 00:14:08,294 --> 00:14:09,829 Yeah. So I gotta ask you, Dave. I 415 00:14:09,829 --> 00:14:11,269 mean, what what is it like being in 416 00:14:11,269 --> 00:14:13,110 parliament? I mean, I can imagine nothing sort 417 00:14:13,110 --> 00:14:14,470 of prepares you for it. It's not a 418 00:14:14,470 --> 00:14:16,549 sort of nine to five job. It's must 419 00:14:16,549 --> 00:14:18,309 be all consuming. I mean, what what what 420 00:14:18,309 --> 00:14:19,370 do you do all day? 421 00:14:20,149 --> 00:14:20,789 Yeah. So, 422 00:14:21,429 --> 00:14:22,709 quite a lot of people will ask me 423 00:14:22,709 --> 00:14:24,445 is, oh, was it what you're expecting? 424 00:14:25,225 --> 00:14:26,345 And when you look at the kind of 425 00:14:26,345 --> 00:14:28,024 electoral history of the of the seat that 426 00:14:28,024 --> 00:14:29,245 that I represent now, 427 00:14:30,985 --> 00:14:33,225 it was a big change for, for the 428 00:14:33,225 --> 00:14:34,424 for the party to win that. 429 00:14:34,985 --> 00:14:37,304 So I haven't spent much time thinking about 430 00:14:37,304 --> 00:14:38,284 what day 431 00:14:39,490 --> 00:14:41,429 election day plus one would look like. 432 00:14:42,450 --> 00:14:44,450 What does happen is when you when you, 433 00:14:45,730 --> 00:14:47,009 when you win the election, they give you 434 00:14:47,009 --> 00:14:49,169 this envelope. Now I was expecting an envelope, 435 00:14:49,169 --> 00:14:50,370 but I was expecting it to be a 436 00:14:50,370 --> 00:14:51,730 big a four one. You know, the ones 437 00:14:51,730 --> 00:14:53,654 that fold in the middle. I mean, it's 438 00:14:53,654 --> 00:14:55,414 like I was expecting, like, a proper thick 439 00:14:55,414 --> 00:14:57,414 one. And it was what they gave me 440 00:14:57,414 --> 00:14:59,654 was clearly one sheet of a four paper 441 00:14:59,654 --> 00:15:01,434 folded in half inside an envelope. 442 00:15:02,375 --> 00:15:03,815 And it was, like, half four in the 443 00:15:03,815 --> 00:15:05,815 morning. I'd had no sleep. I've been on 444 00:15:05,815 --> 00:15:08,695 my feet since 7AM or something stupid. And 445 00:15:08,695 --> 00:15:09,870 I was just like, I'm not I'm not 446 00:15:09,870 --> 00:15:11,730 opening this now. I'm gonna take it home. 447 00:15:11,790 --> 00:15:13,070 I'm gonna open in the morning when I 448 00:15:13,070 --> 00:15:14,750 have a few hours sleep. Open it up 449 00:15:14,750 --> 00:15:17,230 and it was basically, congratulations. Phone this phone 450 00:15:17,230 --> 00:15:18,210 number. I 451 00:15:18,910 --> 00:15:20,509 had to call the phone number and and 452 00:15:20,509 --> 00:15:21,170 they were, 453 00:15:21,865 --> 00:15:23,445 oh, when are you coming down to parliament? 454 00:15:23,985 --> 00:15:25,825 I thought you were telling me that. And 455 00:15:25,825 --> 00:15:27,585 we went through this thing and eventually kinda 456 00:15:27,585 --> 00:15:29,024 got myself booked down. We went down on 457 00:15:29,024 --> 00:15:31,024 a Sunday after the election. And I really 458 00:15:31,024 --> 00:15:33,184 remember walking into Westminster Hall for the first 459 00:15:33,184 --> 00:15:35,184 time with the person who was showing me 460 00:15:35,184 --> 00:15:37,610 around saying, and the the way that she 461 00:15:37,610 --> 00:15:39,070 asked the question was with 462 00:15:39,450 --> 00:15:41,690 my voice. When was the last time you 463 00:15:41,690 --> 00:15:42,350 were in parliament? 464 00:15:43,529 --> 00:15:44,970 Literally, just as I put my hand on 465 00:15:44,970 --> 00:15:46,090 the door, I was like, I've never been 466 00:15:46,090 --> 00:15:46,910 in this building. 467 00:15:47,769 --> 00:15:49,605 Really? And it was literally the fit the 468 00:15:49,605 --> 00:15:51,285 first time I'd I'd ever been on the 469 00:15:51,285 --> 00:15:53,365 estate at all was was as a member, 470 00:15:53,365 --> 00:15:54,184 and it is 471 00:15:54,725 --> 00:15:57,205 nothing like I expected. I think if if 472 00:15:57,205 --> 00:15:59,045 I had expected stuff, it wouldn't have been 473 00:15:59,045 --> 00:16:00,665 like that because it is a 474 00:16:01,529 --> 00:16:03,549 truly bonkers and truly bizarre, 475 00:16:04,490 --> 00:16:04,990 workplace. 476 00:16:06,649 --> 00:16:10,250 Because it is so unique and so different 477 00:16:10,250 --> 00:16:11,389 to everything and, 478 00:16:11,929 --> 00:16:14,190 that comes with its own frustrations at times, 479 00:16:14,409 --> 00:16:15,629 but it also 480 00:16:16,355 --> 00:16:18,754 is an absolute privilege to be able to, 481 00:16:19,074 --> 00:16:20,375 to be involved with and, 482 00:16:20,995 --> 00:16:22,454 yeah, law law may continue. 483 00:16:23,235 --> 00:16:24,995 So what do you have your own office 484 00:16:24,995 --> 00:16:26,514 there? I mean, does there do you how 485 00:16:26,514 --> 00:16:27,875 how many days a week would you say 486 00:16:27,875 --> 00:16:29,714 you're you're in parliament and how many sort 487 00:16:29,714 --> 00:16:30,694 of out and about? 488 00:16:31,279 --> 00:16:32,720 So that very much depends on when we're 489 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:33,220 sitting. 490 00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:34,659 So 491 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,199 when parliament's in recess, obviously, we're up in 492 00:16:37,199 --> 00:16:39,360 constituency and they were all trying to actually 493 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:40,959 speak to people who elect us. And that's 494 00:16:40,959 --> 00:16:43,299 quite, quite an important part of the job. 495 00:16:44,345 --> 00:16:46,825 Generally, when the house is sitting, we'll be 496 00:16:46,825 --> 00:16:48,445 there Mondays through Thursdays. 497 00:16:49,865 --> 00:16:51,625 So it tends to be during the week 498 00:16:51,625 --> 00:16:53,865 that I try to do four days in 499 00:16:53,865 --> 00:16:55,785 constituency a week and four days in parliament 500 00:16:55,785 --> 00:16:56,365 a week, 501 00:16:56,825 --> 00:16:58,769 which doesn't quite add up. But I can 502 00:16:58,769 --> 00:17:00,370 I can split my Mondays so I can 503 00:17:00,370 --> 00:17:01,830 just about make it work sometimes? 504 00:17:03,330 --> 00:17:05,410 And, I suppose, you know, the question I 505 00:17:05,410 --> 00:17:06,769 wanted to ask you, Dave, as as an 506 00:17:06,769 --> 00:17:09,109 MP, what what would you say your priorities 507 00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:10,690 are? I mean, we met when we were 508 00:17:10,690 --> 00:17:12,904 at the Institute of Physics Business Awards that 509 00:17:12,904 --> 00:17:14,424 you helped to sponsor, where we had some 510 00:17:14,424 --> 00:17:15,085 really great 511 00:17:15,625 --> 00:17:18,424 high-tech companies that you, provided the sponsorship for 512 00:17:18,424 --> 00:17:19,944 the event on the on the terrace there. 513 00:17:19,944 --> 00:17:21,545 That was wonderful. Is that is science and 514 00:17:21,545 --> 00:17:23,384 technology a passion for you that you want 515 00:17:23,384 --> 00:17:24,765 to sort of get involved in? 516 00:17:25,464 --> 00:17:25,865 Yes. So, 517 00:17:26,819 --> 00:17:28,980 all the things I've I've said literally since 518 00:17:28,980 --> 00:17:31,380 day one, of the campaign actually before before 519 00:17:31,380 --> 00:17:32,839 even the election is, 520 00:17:33,940 --> 00:17:35,859 I'm really fortunate that I get to represent 521 00:17:35,859 --> 00:17:37,159 the area I grew up. 522 00:17:37,619 --> 00:17:39,619 So my number one focus is very much 523 00:17:39,619 --> 00:17:41,255 what's going on in my constituency, what's going 524 00:17:41,255 --> 00:17:41,994 on in my constituency. 525 00:17:45,095 --> 00:17:46,795 I think that will always be the case. 526 00:17:47,575 --> 00:17:49,494 But within that, you know, I'm I'm very 527 00:17:49,494 --> 00:17:51,015 fortunate that I've got the background that I 528 00:17:51,015 --> 00:17:52,432 have and I've got the training that I 529 00:17:52,432 --> 00:17:53,930 have. I'm one of actually a very small 530 00:17:53,930 --> 00:17:54,750 number of, 531 00:17:55,609 --> 00:17:56,109 parliamentarians 532 00:17:56,490 --> 00:17:58,910 who've got a science background, a physics background. 533 00:17:59,450 --> 00:18:01,369 And I think particularly if we're looking at 534 00:18:01,369 --> 00:18:02,890 some of the real advances that are going 535 00:18:02,890 --> 00:18:05,609 on, that, that event that the IOP sponsored 536 00:18:05,609 --> 00:18:07,695 was absolutely wonderful in seeing some of the 537 00:18:07,695 --> 00:18:08,994 real cutting edge science, 538 00:18:09,615 --> 00:18:11,055 that was that that was there and just 539 00:18:11,055 --> 00:18:12,095 on showing some of the, 540 00:18:15,214 --> 00:18:16,815 just some of the companies that were there 541 00:18:16,815 --> 00:18:17,315 were 542 00:18:18,015 --> 00:18:18,515 astonishing. 543 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,480 And actually being able to kind of use 544 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:22,779 that real, 545 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:25,740 use that fortune that 546 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:27,720 that that background that I've got and be 547 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,000 able to bring that to the fore and 548 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:31,500 make sure the parliamentarians have got access to 549 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,640 organizations like the Institute of Physics. So I 550 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,304 know I sponsored the, 551 00:18:35,744 --> 00:18:37,924 the International Year of Quantum event as well. 552 00:18:38,065 --> 00:18:38,784 So we had a, 553 00:18:40,065 --> 00:18:40,565 a, 554 00:18:40,865 --> 00:18:43,264 an exhibition up there so that actually every 555 00:18:43,264 --> 00:18:45,684 member of parliament and that commons landlords 556 00:18:45,984 --> 00:18:47,504 would have been able to walk past and 557 00:18:47,504 --> 00:18:49,184 see that it was the International Year of 558 00:18:49,184 --> 00:18:50,940 Quantum. And what that means and some of 559 00:18:50,940 --> 00:18:52,799 the advances that are coming along with constant, 560 00:18:53,179 --> 00:18:55,900 science and constant sensors and seeing actually the 561 00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:57,440 the kind of the the next, 562 00:18:58,460 --> 00:19:00,940 industrial revolution is probably gonna be AI. The 563 00:19:00,940 --> 00:19:02,700 one after that is probably gonna be quantum, 564 00:19:02,700 --> 00:19:04,000 but it's already starting. 565 00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:05,964 And we're so fortunate in The UK that 566 00:19:05,964 --> 00:19:07,484 we are on the very cutting edge of 567 00:19:07,484 --> 00:19:07,984 that, 568 00:19:08,444 --> 00:19:10,444 and being able to bring that to parliament 569 00:19:10,444 --> 00:19:11,565 and being able to bring that to where 570 00:19:11,565 --> 00:19:13,884 the decision makers were and hopefully begin those 571 00:19:13,884 --> 00:19:16,845 conversations so that where we see The UK 572 00:19:16,845 --> 00:19:18,765 is in a real leadership position in the 573 00:19:18,765 --> 00:19:19,585 world of quantum. 574 00:19:19,930 --> 00:19:21,289 And to be able to drive that forward 575 00:19:21,289 --> 00:19:23,450 to is something that I really enjoy. And, 576 00:19:23,769 --> 00:19:24,509 yeah, I'll 577 00:19:24,890 --> 00:19:27,009 be, hopefully keeping the, keeping the hammer down 578 00:19:27,009 --> 00:19:28,250 on that for the next three years and 579 00:19:28,250 --> 00:19:28,750 beyond. 580 00:19:29,049 --> 00:19:30,730 I mean, as a former physics teacher, do 581 00:19:30,730 --> 00:19:32,804 you think I mean, is that high on 582 00:19:32,804 --> 00:19:34,184 the radar of 583 00:19:34,644 --> 00:19:36,804 MPs? The idea the importance of getting more 584 00:19:36,804 --> 00:19:39,444 physics teachers is, you know, something very important 585 00:19:39,444 --> 00:19:40,964 for the future of the subject. Is that 586 00:19:40,964 --> 00:19:42,825 something that many parliamentarians 587 00:19:43,284 --> 00:19:44,884 think about? And how can we get that 588 00:19:44,884 --> 00:19:46,505 issue on the radar for them? 589 00:19:49,109 --> 00:19:52,069 So again, there's 650 of us. So there's 590 00:19:52,069 --> 00:19:53,750 certainly there's a group of us who are 591 00:19:53,750 --> 00:19:56,389 very concerned about making sure that we have 592 00:19:56,389 --> 00:19:58,069 the right teachers in the right place. There's 593 00:19:58,069 --> 00:20:00,389 a, there's an education team, the shadow education 594 00:20:00,389 --> 00:20:02,629 team, and education spokespeople for the other parties 595 00:20:02,629 --> 00:20:04,525 who are really interested in making sure that 596 00:20:04,525 --> 00:20:06,605 we can deliver the best possible future for 597 00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:07,825 for kids in The UK. 598 00:20:08,924 --> 00:20:11,085 Whether every single one of the 650 599 00:20:11,085 --> 00:20:12,765 of us has thoughts about the importance of 600 00:20:12,765 --> 00:20:14,465 getting more physic features in the classroom, 601 00:20:14,924 --> 00:20:16,545 probably not, if I'm honest, 602 00:20:17,069 --> 00:20:18,669 because there's it's such a big job and 603 00:20:18,669 --> 00:20:20,669 there's so much that that comes at us 604 00:20:20,669 --> 00:20:22,990 from our ways. But one of the things 605 00:20:22,990 --> 00:20:24,690 that is actually the kind of responsibility 606 00:20:24,990 --> 00:20:26,029 of myself and, 607 00:20:26,429 --> 00:20:28,269 the other MPs who've got this background and 608 00:20:28,269 --> 00:20:30,744 who've got that knowledge about the importance of 609 00:20:30,744 --> 00:20:32,505 getting the right people in the right classrooms 610 00:20:32,505 --> 00:20:34,904 to be that spark, to be that thing 611 00:20:34,904 --> 00:20:37,325 that that brings somebody forwards and might 612 00:20:37,944 --> 00:20:39,704 unearth the next Brian Cox or the next 613 00:20:39,704 --> 00:20:41,545 Paul Dirac or the next Nigel Newton or 614 00:20:41,545 --> 00:20:42,924 who whoever it is. 615 00:20:43,690 --> 00:20:45,610 Actually making sure that that's there's something that's 616 00:20:45,610 --> 00:20:47,210 really important to me. I know there's a 617 00:20:47,210 --> 00:20:48,029 wealth of, 618 00:20:48,570 --> 00:20:50,650 MPs out there who value that from a 619 00:20:50,650 --> 00:20:52,730 kind of subject specific point of view, but 620 00:20:52,730 --> 00:20:54,009 there's also a huge number of us. You 621 00:20:54,009 --> 00:20:55,690 know, my background's in teaching as much as 622 00:20:55,690 --> 00:20:57,575 it is in physics, and there's a huge 623 00:20:57,575 --> 00:20:58,875 amount of us who are worried 624 00:20:59,255 --> 00:21:01,994 about teacher recruitment and teacher retention particularly 625 00:21:02,455 --> 00:21:04,695 anyway. And there's a big kind of overlap 626 00:21:04,695 --> 00:21:05,674 sometimes between 627 00:21:06,615 --> 00:21:08,775 kind of different thought processes, but here or 628 00:21:08,775 --> 00:21:10,075 there or both or neither. 629 00:21:10,779 --> 00:21:12,059 I was gonna say you mentioned some of 630 00:21:12,059 --> 00:21:13,980 the other scientists in parliament. Do do you 631 00:21:13,980 --> 00:21:15,500 all gang together? Do you know many of 632 00:21:15,500 --> 00:21:17,920 them? Are you some old buddies across party? 633 00:21:18,859 --> 00:21:20,059 So I think it's a big yes or 634 00:21:20,059 --> 00:21:20,299 no. 635 00:21:22,299 --> 00:21:22,799 And 636 00:21:23,394 --> 00:21:24,134 there are 637 00:21:25,474 --> 00:21:27,554 there again, there's there's often a lot going 638 00:21:27,554 --> 00:21:29,795 on, and it's quite interesting actually that sometimes 639 00:21:29,795 --> 00:21:31,075 you do see the same people at the 640 00:21:31,075 --> 00:21:32,275 same events and you start to get to 641 00:21:32,275 --> 00:21:34,115 know them. There's some people, 642 00:21:34,595 --> 00:21:37,315 Martin Wigley from the, Liberal Democrats on OS. 643 00:21:37,315 --> 00:21:39,095 There are lots of events on the, 644 00:21:39,849 --> 00:21:40,970 an officer on one of the, 645 00:21:41,849 --> 00:21:44,029 other APPG with him where he chairs it. 646 00:21:45,210 --> 00:21:47,690 Sam Carling springs to mind. I had the 647 00:21:47,690 --> 00:21:50,250 pleasure of meeting, Lord Sharma, Alok Sharma at 648 00:21:50,250 --> 00:21:52,409 the, IOP event, who, again, saw a real 649 00:21:52,409 --> 00:21:54,169 background in physics. He's really interested in that. 650 00:21:54,169 --> 00:21:55,765 We're interested in Joe Sun from. 651 00:21:56,384 --> 00:21:58,065 So there's a group of us. Whether I've 652 00:21:58,065 --> 00:22:00,725 got an exhausted list exhaustive list, no. 653 00:22:01,745 --> 00:22:03,505 But there's also this kind of there there 654 00:22:03,505 --> 00:22:05,265 are the old party parliamentary groups where a 655 00:22:05,265 --> 00:22:06,545 lot of us are involved in the same 656 00:22:06,545 --> 00:22:07,500 thing with the 657 00:22:07,900 --> 00:22:10,799 science innovate innovate science innovation and technology, 658 00:22:11,339 --> 00:22:13,339 select committee, which I did have a go 659 00:22:13,339 --> 00:22:14,539 at trying to get on a couple of 660 00:22:14,539 --> 00:22:15,980 weeks couple of months back. Didn't quite get 661 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:17,200 over the line on that one. 662 00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:19,180 But, yeah, there's group there's groups of us 663 00:22:19,180 --> 00:22:19,839 there, and, 664 00:22:20,539 --> 00:22:22,700 I think sometimes rather than having that kind 665 00:22:22,700 --> 00:22:24,115 of there's a big group of us and 666 00:22:24,115 --> 00:22:26,275 we all sit in this corner, the idea 667 00:22:26,275 --> 00:22:28,674 that we've all got a kind of knowledge 668 00:22:28,674 --> 00:22:30,515 of the other the other MPs who are 669 00:22:30,515 --> 00:22:33,654 interested in science, physics, and chemistry, and whatever 670 00:22:33,954 --> 00:22:35,714 in quantum or whatever part of it there 671 00:22:35,714 --> 00:22:38,269 is. Actually, it's all kind of having those 672 00:22:38,269 --> 00:22:40,509 tentacles that spread out between ourselves and into 673 00:22:40,509 --> 00:22:42,990 other groups and parties and other sections of 674 00:22:42,990 --> 00:22:44,289 parliament is really helpful. 675 00:22:44,990 --> 00:22:46,589 And I've looked online. It says you're a 676 00:22:46,589 --> 00:22:49,250 member of various parliamentary groups, including fusion, 677 00:22:50,029 --> 00:22:52,049 space, and football. Is that right? 678 00:22:53,225 --> 00:22:54,765 It's quite a long list, actually. 679 00:22:55,465 --> 00:22:57,565 A list of groups to limit. Yeah. 680 00:22:59,065 --> 00:23:00,505 Yeah. I mean, there's some of those groups, 681 00:23:00,505 --> 00:23:02,105 the the all party groups that I'm in, 682 00:23:02,105 --> 00:23:04,924 I mean, because this is specific constituency focus. 683 00:23:05,509 --> 00:23:07,190 I do allow myself a couple where it's 684 00:23:07,269 --> 00:23:08,789 where I've got a bit of an interest. 685 00:23:09,589 --> 00:23:11,990 And sometimes there's a significant overlap between those 686 00:23:11,990 --> 00:23:13,990 two. But again, actually, the groups on, 687 00:23:14,950 --> 00:23:17,125 fusion, there's one on quantum and photonics that 688 00:23:17,125 --> 00:23:18,105 I'm involved with. 689 00:23:18,484 --> 00:23:19,845 I'm actually looking to try and set another 690 00:23:19,845 --> 00:23:21,684 couple off in the new year, specifically in 691 00:23:21,684 --> 00:23:22,984 the in the realm of quantum, 692 00:23:24,085 --> 00:23:26,005 because I think there's there's a lot that 693 00:23:26,005 --> 00:23:27,605 can be done there. And sometimes it is 694 00:23:27,605 --> 00:23:28,585 that way to 695 00:23:28,964 --> 00:23:30,240 kind of build that 696 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,900 critical map of MPs or parliamentarians 697 00:23:33,279 --> 00:23:35,759 including the lords who are really interested in 698 00:23:35,759 --> 00:23:37,679 a subject who wanna drive an agenda forward. 699 00:23:37,679 --> 00:23:39,519 They wanna be able to create a report 700 00:23:39,519 --> 00:23:41,039 that can be picked up in industry or 701 00:23:41,039 --> 00:23:42,259 in parliament or elsewhere. 702 00:23:42,765 --> 00:23:43,965 Sorry. I've gotta ask you about the football. 703 00:23:43,965 --> 00:23:46,625 Are you a player or supporter or just 704 00:23:46,924 --> 00:23:47,664 somebody watches? 705 00:23:48,365 --> 00:23:48,865 So, 706 00:23:49,404 --> 00:23:51,565 the nickname fifty p Foot Robertson would have 707 00:23:51,565 --> 00:23:53,105 been very appropriate for me. 708 00:23:53,724 --> 00:23:55,505 There is a limit on what my enthusiasm 709 00:23:55,724 --> 00:23:57,025 would ever get me with football. 710 00:23:57,700 --> 00:23:59,380 So yeah. Not not not a player, not 711 00:23:59,380 --> 00:24:00,920 for many, many, many years. But, 712 00:24:01,299 --> 00:24:03,059 yeah. Once upon a time, I think all 713 00:24:03,059 --> 00:24:04,680 the kids in my fella sales are connoisseur. 714 00:24:05,059 --> 00:24:06,500 And I think these days, I'll just go 715 00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:07,559 as far as supporter. 716 00:24:08,340 --> 00:24:10,994 Alright. And, I mean, in terms of next 717 00:24:10,994 --> 00:24:13,394 steps, I mean, you know, political career can, 718 00:24:13,394 --> 00:24:14,994 you know, last forever. It can not last 719 00:24:14,994 --> 00:24:17,315 not very long. I mean, it's pretty precarious. 720 00:24:17,315 --> 00:24:18,835 I mean, where where do you see go 721 00:24:19,075 --> 00:24:21,315 yourself going next? Can you predict it? Do 722 00:24:21,315 --> 00:24:22,134 you have ambitions? 723 00:24:23,019 --> 00:24:24,539 So I think anybody who wants to make 724 00:24:24,539 --> 00:24:26,619 massive predictions about what's gonna happen in their 725 00:24:26,619 --> 00:24:27,599 political career, 726 00:24:28,220 --> 00:24:29,980 either knows a lot more than me or 727 00:24:29,980 --> 00:24:30,299 they're, 728 00:24:30,859 --> 00:24:31,740 not quite switched. I was 729 00:24:33,179 --> 00:24:35,819 and I think for me, I am incredibly 730 00:24:35,819 --> 00:24:37,819 fortunate that I've got the opportunity that I've 731 00:24:37,819 --> 00:24:39,535 got at the moment. I'm on a very 732 00:24:39,535 --> 00:24:41,715 small journey. I'm on a 08/2012. 733 00:24:42,974 --> 00:24:45,315 So my focus will remain in my constituency. 734 00:24:46,575 --> 00:24:48,835 If I'm honest, I don't have the aspirations 735 00:24:48,974 --> 00:24:50,355 to be working in a ministry. 736 00:24:51,295 --> 00:24:52,494 I think the job that I've got is 737 00:24:52,494 --> 00:24:53,934 just about the most wonderful one in the 738 00:24:53,934 --> 00:24:56,299 world. And I wanna keep keep doing that 739 00:24:56,299 --> 00:24:57,600 because there's there's 740 00:24:58,299 --> 00:24:59,660 wonderful things that I'm able to do for 741 00:24:59,660 --> 00:25:00,400 my community 742 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:02,059 and to be able to go out there 743 00:25:02,059 --> 00:25:03,180 and fight for that every day and to 744 00:25:03,180 --> 00:25:04,160 be able to do, 745 00:25:04,460 --> 00:25:05,759 again, some of the 746 00:25:06,424 --> 00:25:08,025 bit of quantum stuff over here, a bit 747 00:25:08,025 --> 00:25:09,464 of physics stuff over here, a bit of 748 00:25:09,464 --> 00:25:11,085 football over there, a bit of, 749 00:25:11,625 --> 00:25:13,784 support in whatever the community is over there, 750 00:25:13,784 --> 00:25:15,224 being able to spread myself around for the 751 00:25:15,224 --> 00:25:17,065 benefit of the community, something I'm really enjoying 752 00:25:17,065 --> 00:25:18,125 at the minute. So, 753 00:25:18,825 --> 00:25:20,825 yeah, pretty pretty comfortable with life on the 754 00:25:20,825 --> 00:25:22,889 backbenchers. I suppose there's always that, you can 755 00:25:22,889 --> 00:25:24,490 always go back into teaching if it doesn't 756 00:25:24,490 --> 00:25:26,250 if it doesn't work out. Not that I 757 00:25:26,250 --> 00:25:27,069 wish it doesn't. 758 00:25:27,529 --> 00:25:29,450 I mean, yeah, very very much my focus 759 00:25:29,450 --> 00:25:32,269 is on on delivery for my community. But, 760 00:25:32,569 --> 00:25:33,849 yeah, rumor has it we could do with 761 00:25:33,849 --> 00:25:35,025 a few more physics teachers. 762 00:25:36,144 --> 00:25:36,644 Alright. 763 00:25:36,945 --> 00:25:39,345 And before we finish, Dave, any final message 764 00:25:39,345 --> 00:25:41,585 or thought for the physics community? Would you 765 00:25:41,585 --> 00:25:43,924 encourage other people to follow in your footsteps? 766 00:25:45,105 --> 00:25:46,484 Absolutely. I think, 767 00:25:47,184 --> 00:25:49,125 if if we're talking about the physics community, 768 00:25:49,345 --> 00:25:51,970 there's so much that actually our community and 769 00:25:51,970 --> 00:25:53,329 our subject has got to offer to the 770 00:25:53,329 --> 00:25:53,829 country 771 00:25:54,289 --> 00:25:56,609 and to the world. And there's there's real 772 00:25:56,609 --> 00:25:57,990 innovation. There's real creativity. 773 00:25:58,609 --> 00:26:00,289 There's real knowledge actually about sort of the 774 00:26:00,289 --> 00:26:02,369 kind of fundamental stuff that affects us all. 775 00:26:02,369 --> 00:26:04,369 We've not mentioned climate change yet today. I 776 00:26:04,369 --> 00:26:06,384 feel I would be stupid to not mention 777 00:26:06,384 --> 00:26:07,765 that. It is the biggest, 778 00:26:08,144 --> 00:26:09,045 issue facing, 779 00:26:09,505 --> 00:26:11,345 the world at the moment. And actually, a 780 00:26:11,345 --> 00:26:13,205 lot of the solutions are gonna come from 781 00:26:13,345 --> 00:26:14,005 the physical 782 00:26:14,305 --> 00:26:14,964 come from 783 00:26:15,345 --> 00:26:17,285 the the physics world, first to speak. 784 00:26:17,585 --> 00:26:18,945 I think that me might get a plug 785 00:26:18,945 --> 00:26:19,605 for you 786 00:26:20,119 --> 00:26:20,779 brief publication. 787 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,080 And so, yeah, I think the more that 788 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,240 we can do to get more physicists engaged 789 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:26,619 with more decision makers, 790 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,000 can only can only be good for not 791 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:30,519 only the future of the economy, for the 792 00:26:30,519 --> 00:26:32,460 future of innovation, create creativity, 793 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,575 but ultimately for the future of the planet. 794 00:26:35,375 --> 00:26:37,134 That's very positive. I forgot to ask you 795 00:26:37,134 --> 00:26:38,514 support. You've got to tell me 796 00:26:38,815 --> 00:26:40,654 that. So once upon a time, I would 797 00:26:40,654 --> 00:26:41,554 have said Liverpool, 798 00:26:41,855 --> 00:26:42,755 football club. 799 00:26:43,375 --> 00:26:45,454 But I've got to say actually, since we 800 00:26:45,454 --> 00:26:47,294 really get involved with local politics, I'm down 801 00:26:47,294 --> 00:26:49,454 at my, local semi pro teams as often 802 00:26:49,454 --> 00:26:51,119 as I can. So it's down in Littlefield, 803 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,180 the city are both wonderful setups, and it's 804 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:55,440 just really nice to be able to go 805 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,599 down there where it's, it it turn up 806 00:26:57,599 --> 00:26:58,799 on the day and after you get ticket 807 00:26:58,799 --> 00:27:00,240 seven months in advance, you can have a 808 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:01,519 pint and watch the game, and it's, 809 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,080 it's a lot of fun. So, yeah, by 810 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,785 all means, also, physics community, get out there 811 00:27:06,785 --> 00:27:08,625 and talk to decision makers, but get out 812 00:27:08,625 --> 00:27:10,805 and support your local selling proteins as well. 813 00:27:11,265 --> 00:27:13,105 Alright. Thanks so much, David. It's been great 814 00:27:13,105 --> 00:27:14,464 to have you on the on the podcast. 815 00:27:14,464 --> 00:27:16,305 Thank you. That's brilliant. Thank you very much 816 00:27:16,305 --> 00:27:17,045 for your time. 817 00:27:24,569 --> 00:27:28,269 That was the physicist and MP Dave Robertson 818 00:27:28,730 --> 00:27:31,869 in conversation with Physics World's Mateen Jurani. 819 00:27:32,490 --> 00:27:33,950 Thanks to both of them. 820 00:27:34,474 --> 00:27:36,955 I'm afraid that's all the time we have 821 00:27:36,955 --> 00:27:37,855 for this episode. 822 00:27:38,234 --> 00:27:41,195 I'm Hamish Johnston, and our producer is Fred 823 00:27:41,195 --> 00:27:41,695 Iles. 824 00:27:42,234 --> 00:27:44,714 The theme music for this podcast is called 825 00:27:44,714 --> 00:27:46,015 one three seven, 826 00:27:46,315 --> 00:27:48,335 and it was composed and performed 827 00:27:48,714 --> 00:27:49,615 by the physicist 828 00:27:50,429 --> 00:27:51,329 Philip Moriarty. 829 00:27:52,190 --> 00:27:54,049 We'll be back again next week.