JessM Plenty of people who studied non-science subjects are perfectly capable of understanding the concept of evidence. I would suggest that it is a very basic concept for historians, for example, and features in matters related to the law. That politicians avoid considering or even deny evidence in favour of the party line or to promulgate their own ideas, e.g. Michael Gove, is indeed no surprise. I would guess that this approach would still apply even among politicians with a scientific background if they wanted a successful career in politics.