In a significant development, Michelle Donelan, the Science Minister of the United Kingdom, has agreed to pay damages in a libel complaint filed by an academic she publicly accused of endorsing extremist ideologies.
Last October, Donelan took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Kate Sang, a gender studies professor at Heriot-Watt University, and Kamna Patel, a social scientist at University College London, had shared tweets promoting extremist views regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Donelan, a Cabinet minister from the Conservative Party, called for the immediate shutdown of a panel on diversity and equity in science, set to include Sang and Patel, citing a breach of public servant conduct. Despite opposition from over 3,400 researchers, urging UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to disregard Donelan's request, an investigation was promised.
Yesterday, UKRI announced the conclusion of its investigation, stating that Sang and Patel had not violated any codes of conduct or expressed problematic views. The investigation affirmed the necessity of the diversity panel, defying Donelan's call for its discontinuation.
Subsequently, Donelan retracted her allegations, admitting to misunderstanding Sang's tweet, which merely referenced a news article without endorsing extremism. However, her statement did not address Patel's situation.
Legal representatives for Sang and Patel announced that Donelan had agreed to an undisclosed settlement for damages and costs to resolve Sang's libel complaint. The initial concern stemmed from a report by the conservative think tank Policy Exchange, which singled out Sang and Patel as targets.
Reports indicate that the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), led by Donelan, footed the bill for damages and legal costs. This has sparked calls for an inquiry from the centrist Liberal Democrats Party, labeling it a "national scandal."
The fallout from the controversy has led to calls for Donelan's resignation by the University and College Union, citing loss of confidence in her leadership.
Academics and observers have criticized the handling of the situation, highlighting the reputational damage caused to Sang and Patel, as well as the broader implications for trust in government and academic autonomy.
In the aftermath of this ordeal, questions linger regarding accountability, professionalism, and the impact on the academic community's trust in government institutions.
