UK minister pays damages after accusing academics of supporting Hamas

The UK’s secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Michelle Donelan, has been forced to apologise and pay damages after she accused academics of “sharing extremist views” and supporting Hamas. 

Donelan published a letter to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) urging them to cut links with academics Kate Sang and Kamna Patel, citing her “disgust and outrage” at their appointment to an expert advisory group on equality, diversity and inclusion. 

Donelan’s letter referenced Sang reposting an article from The Guardian in October, which was headlined “Suella Braverman urges police to crack down on Hamas support in UK”.

Sang reposted the article with the comment: “This is disturbing.”

The organisation, which is responsible for channelling £3bn in higher education research funding, suspended both academics while carrying out investigations into allegations.

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