John Leech MP for Withington calls for new institute to be located in Manchester.
The Chancellor announced today the nation would honour Alan Turing, the Second World War code-breaker with a research institute in his name to be established with a five year £42m Government funding package part of a wider £222m science package. The Institute will focus on new ways of collecting, organising and analysing what is commonly called big data.
The Chancellor, said: “In my maiden speech here in this House, I spoke of Alan Turing, the code-breaker who lived in my constituency, who did more than almost any other single person to win the war, and who was persecuted for his sexuality by the country he helped save.
“I am delighted that he has finally received a posthumous royal pardon.
“Now, in his honour, we will found the Alan Turing Institute to ensure Britain leads the way again in the use of big data and algorithm research.
“I am determined that our country is going to out-compete, out-smart and out-do the rest of the world.”
John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington led the calls in the Parliament for the maths genius and computer pioneer to be posthumously pardoned. A royal pardon was granted in December 2013. He was quick to call for the Institute to be located in Manchester.
He said: “Alan Turing’s contribution to Manchester was enormous as well as his efforts in bringing the war to an early conclusion. He is a national hero.
“I am delighted that the Government have pledged support to create a fitting legacy for Alan Turing to ensure generations remember him for years to come.
“Given his huge contribution to Manchester, it is only right that the new institute will be here.”
Turing was prosecuted for having an affair with a 19 year old man in Manchester in 1952, when acts were still criminalised in the UK. He accepted chemical castration as an alternative to prison. Much of his ground-breaking scientific work was conducted at the University of Manchester where he committed suicide 16 days before his 42nd birthday.
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