Tech Secretary Michelle Donelan has apologised and paid damages to an academic she falsely accused of supporting Hamas.
Donelan had previously called for the removal of two researchers from advisory roles at a public innovation body. The £15,000 in damages will be covered by the taxpayer, the tech department confirmed.
In October, Donelan wrote to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) demanding “swift action” over the appointment of Prof Kate Sang and Dr Kamna Patel to a diversity advisory panel, claiming the researchers were sharing “extremist views” on social media regarding the UK’s position on Hamas.
Donelan claimed that Sang described the UK’s crackdown on Hamas support as “disturbing” when sharing an article from the Guardian. The science and tech minister said this was a breach of the Nolan principles, which set ethical standards for public office holders.
UKRI suspended the researchers in November. An investigation by UKRI has since found no evidence that either Sang or Patel had breached the Nolan principles or the terms of their roles.
The tech secretary shared a letter of apology on Tuesday clarifying that Sang’s comments were referring to policies disrupting peaceful protests, rather than being in support of Hamas.
“I am grateful for Professor Sang’s clarification, and I am pleased to be able to withdraw my original concerns in relation to this specific tweet,” Donelan wrote.
“I fully accept that [Sang] is not an extremist, a supporter of Hamas or any other proscribed organisation.”
In a statement, Sang said: “I am delighted that this matter has now concluded, but very disturbed by the way in which Michelle Donelan and UKRI behaved. Had they asked me at the start, I would have explained the true position.
“Instead, Michelle Donelan made a cheap political point at my expense and caused serious damage to my reputation. I propose to donate part of the damages she has paid to a charity.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said the sum was paid “without admitting any liability”.
Peter Kyle, Labour’s shadow science and tech secretary, said: “It is outrageous that £15,000 of taxpayers money has been spent on the science secretary calling a scientist a terrorist sympathiser, without any evidence at all.”
He added: “Michelle Donelan should be embarrassed, she should apologise, and she should repay the full amount back to the taxpayer. Her conduct falls so far below that expected of a minister.”
A DSIT spokesperson said: “There is an established precedent under multiple administrations that ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a minister, as was the case here.
“The secretary of state received the appropriate advice from relevant officials at all times.
“A sum of £15,000 was paid without admitting any liability. This approach is intended to reduce the overall costs to the taxpayer that could result from protracted legal action, no matter what the result would have been.”
Donelan has previously attacked what she calls a “slow creep of wokeism” in scientific research, an argument which formed part of her speech at the Conservative Party conference just weeks before her letter to UKRI.
This story was updated to include the amount paid in damages and additional comments from DSIT and Labour.