Earlier this week we noted that a band of rebels were attempting to oust the rulers of the Royal Institution and reinstate Susan Greenfield, the director who was given the boot earlier this year.

Their mission, they say, is to “to bring the RI to greatness in the 21st Century”. The rebels mustered the 15 signatures from members of the RI required to trigger a meeting, where they hope members will vote out the entire current council.

Now the RI has struck back, wheeling out its big guns to declare their support for the current rulers. Today the RI announced that 15 other members have signed up to back the current council.

Among those signed up to the motion blocking the proposed changes are Harry Kroto, David Phillips and Richard Catlow.

Unsurprisingly a statement issued today by the RI says, “The Council believes that the proposed changes to the governance of the RI would cause profound harm and the resolutions are unanimously opposed by the present trustees in the strongest terms.”

The final battle takes place on 12 April.