Ban academics talking to ministers? We should train them to do it

Bravo! I couldn't agree more.

You accidentally told us a long list of things about how very influential and famous you are at the same time. Woops!

Convincing, thoughtful and honest! You make points that need to be made, and you make them so clearly. Thank you for using your time on the train to write this. Also: re. that course that would help academics learn how to do this, the AHRC has been running a programme with the Institute for Government for the past few years, and it's fantastic. http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/current/engaging-with-government/

The Royal Society runs an excellent scheme too https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/pairing-scheme/scientists/

If this ridiculous ban is implemented, one can only hope that it will also apply to corporations who receive government subsidies (sorry, I mean tax breaks).

Do you think you could give us a pointer to the Act and the wording in context to which you're opposed?

I'm struggling to understand how the press release you have referred to relates to the supposed ban which you are opposing? It seems the ban specifically relates to using funds provided by the government to lobby said government but does not ban lobbying by publicly funded academics. Indeed, it explicitly notes "It will not prevent organisations from using their own privately-raised funds to campaign [the government] as they see fit". If the purpose of this change is only to prevent public funding from being spent on lobbying, then this does not affect any of the interactions you have described in your article unless you wished to start claiming back on those train tickets..