Tory Michelle Donelan pays damages to professor she falsely branded an extremist
A Tory minister has shared a grovelling apology and paid damages to a Professor after falsely suggesting she supported Hamas.
Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan did “serious damage” to Prof Kate Sang’s repute so as to make a “cheap political point”, it’s claimed. In a press release Ms Donelan admitted she was unsuitable after misunderstanding a social media publish.
Her actions have been described as “extraordinary” after Prof Sang launched a libel case towards the minister. The prime Tory additionally wrongly claimed Dr Kamna Patel had shared extremist materials.
Ms Donelan mentioned in a press release immediately: “As I said to the media at the time, and I want to reiterate now: I have never thought or claimed that Professor Sang, or any member of the Board, committed a criminal offence. I fully accept that she is not an extremist, a supporter of Hamas or any other proscribed organisation and I note that an independent investigation has concluded that there is no evidence that she is.”
In October final yr Ms Donelan shared a letter on Twitter/X suggesting the educational had expressed sympathy for Hamas after its assault on Israel. She wrote to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which had not too long ago appointed her sufferer to an equality board, suggesting she needs to be eliminated.
As a consequence Prof Sang confronted a months-long investigation. Ms Donelan reacted after Prof Sang shared an article in regards to the aftermath of the October 7 assault within the UK, writing “this is worrying”. Ms Donelan wrongly thought Prof Sang was supporting extremists.
Following the Cabinet member’s apology, Prof Sang mentioned: “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 an affordable political level at my expense and precipitated severe harm to my repute. I suggest to donate a part of the damages she has paid to a charity.”
Tamsin Allen, who represented Professor Sang and Dr Patel, said: “It is extraordinary {that a} Minister needs to be guided by a foyer group into making severe false allegations about non-public residents with out doing the primary piece of due diligence.”
Dr Patel said: “Worryingly, it seems UKRI have been steered by who made the declare and never its substance. It has been a distressing collection of occasions and I’m glad that it has concluded with no discovering towards us.”
In a statement the UKRI said it “regrets any difficulties” experienced by those affected. It said it found no evidence of support for a proscribed terrorist organisation or the sharing of extremist material.
