The thinking, such that it is, is broadly this: the government funds research, therefore it is in favor of the research, therefore it is a waste of such (scarce

The thinking, such that it is, is broadly this: the government funds research, therefore it is in favor of the research, therefore it is a waste of such (scarce) funds having the recipients lobbying the said government in favor of the findings, given the government was in favor in the first place. This is the best explanation I've come across. Of course, anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence will see that this is either incredibly stupid, or incredibly devious. Given the trajectory of the current UK government (for example privatising the probation service whilst bragging that not only did it not have any evidence this such a plan was a good thing, and that it was not going to look, because sometimes trusting 'gut instinct' is a smart idea), this has all the hallmarks of shutting down dissenting voices, rather than trying to spend money wisely.