Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Professor Brian Cox brands astrology-believing Tory MP David Tredinnick an 'outlier on the spectrum of reason'

The MP for Bosworth criticised Cox for dismissing prophecy as a potential way to relieve the pressure on doctors in the NHS

Jenn Selby
Thursday 05 March 2015 11:22 EST
Comments
Professor Brian Cox has expressed concern at the lack of social mobility and limited access to STEM industries
Professor Brian Cox has expressed concern at the lack of social mobility and limited access to STEM industries (BBC)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Last month, Conservative MP David Tredinnick gave an interview to the Astrological Journal, in which he suggested that prophecy could be used to treat patients in the NHS.

“I do believe that astrology and complementary medicine would help take the huge pressure off doctors,” the MP for Bosworth said.

He also made reference to a certain famous physicist when he added: “People such as Professor Brian Cox, who called astrology 'rubbish', have simply not studied the subject.”

Dismissal of astrology as a means to achieve a higher quality of life, he added, tended to be “based on superstition” and “scientists reacting emotionally, which is always a great irony.”

Tory MP David Tredinnick arrives at 10 Downing Street
Tory MP David Tredinnick arrives at 10 Downing Street (REX/Steve Back)

He went on to brand critics “ignorant, because they never study the subject and just say that it is all to do with what appears in the newspapers, which it is not, and they are deeply prejudiced, and racially prejudiced, which is troubling.”

Professor Brian Cox has since countered Tredinnick comments, describing him as an “outlier on the spectrum of reason.”

“I don't really mind what his views are except that he's on the science and technology select committee… which deals with funding,” Professor Cox told HuffPost Live.

“He should be arguing for science and stem subjects in parliament, so that is problematic. And he's a well-known outlier on the spectrum of reason.”

Victor Olliver, the editor of the Astrological Journal, has since responded to the report by tweeting the following:

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in