After more than two years in the pipeline, the government’s semiconductor strategy was due to be published on Thursday. It will not be published on Thursday. Politico informs us the delay is due to confusion over who will provide maternity cover for Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Many Westminster watchers, particularly those interested in China, have been calling for this strategy for a while. Beneath the bombast about standing up to the Communist totalitarians is a recognition that the UK needs to secure the supply of key components such as semiconductors, which are essential to making computer chips. Taiwan produces more than 60 per cent of the world’s semiconductors and over 90 per cent of the most advanced ones. If China invaded Taiwan, that supply would be jeopardised – to put it lightly.
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