Peter Kyle responding to Michelle Donelan apologising in the House of Lords

Peter Kyle MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of Science, Innovation and Technology,remarking on Secretary of State Michelle Donelan apologising in the House of Lords today, said:

“Rishi Sunak said he would lead a government of integrity, but this squalid episode shows he has once again utterly failed on that promise. Donelan has now admitted that there was no need to publicly hurl abuse at an academic without evidence.

“It’s an insult to hardworking families up and down the country that £15,000 of taxpayer money was wasted on unprofessional and libelous behaviour from a Conservative Cabinet minister.

“Michelle Donelan has not been able to show that she still has the support of our vital scientific community. Labour has been clear, Donelan still needs to answer whether civil servants helped to produce a dossier on the academic and she must inform the public of the overall legal fees paid by the taxpayer.”

Ends.

Notes to editors:

• https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2d324e69-4654-4acd-b868-3e706357cd33?in=11:05:35
• Michelle Donelan at the House of Lords Science Committee12/03 said: “I am now clear that in this case I could have sent the letter in confidence to UKRI, in order for them to undertake the investigations privately, and I do apologise for not having done so.’’