Tory Michelle Donelan pays damages to professor she falsely branded an extremist

05 March 2024 , 18:12

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Michelle Donelan has apologised for false allegations made on social media (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

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 reputation in order to make a "cheap political point", it is claimed. In a statement Ms Donelan admitted she was wrong after misunderstanding a social media post.

Her actions were described as "extraordinary" after Prof Sang launched a libel case against the minister. The top Tory also wrongly claimed Dr Kamna Patel had shared extremist material.

Ms Donelan said in a statement today: "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 last year Ms Donelan shared a letter on Twitter/X suggesting the academic had expressed sympathy for Hamas after its attack on Israel. She wrote to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which had recently appointed her victim to an equality board, suggesting she should be removed.

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As a result Prof Sang faced a months-long investigation. Ms Donelan reacted after Prof Sang shared an article about the aftermath of the October 7 attack in the UK, writing "this is worrying". Ms Donelan wrongly thought Prof Sang was supporting extremists.

Following the Cabinet member's apology, Prof 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."

Tamsin Allen, who represented Professor Sang and Dr Patel, said: "It is extraordinary that a Minister should be guided by a lobby group into making serious false allegations about private citizens without doing the first piece of due diligence."

Dr Patel said: "Worryingly, it appears UKRI were steered by who made the claim and not its substance. It has been a distressing series of events and I am glad that it has concluded with no finding against 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.

Dave Burke