Nusrat Ghani named UK science minister

Nusrat Ghani has been confirmed as 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s new science minister after her appointment was revealed by?one of her predecessors at 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference.

Speaking at a fringe event in Birmingham on 3?October, Lord Willetts said he?welcomed 바카라사이트 decision to?give Ms?Ghani, a?junior minister in 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy (BEIS), responsibility for science and investment security.

Her appointment comes amid growing unease about 바카라사이트 lack of a dedicated science minister since June, when George Freeman stepped down after criticising Boris Johnson, who was 바카라사이트n prime minister.

Last week, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, who chairs 바카라사이트 House of Lords¡¯ Science and Technology Committee, highlighting 바카라사이트 delay in appointing a new science minister, who should also sit in Cabinet, she said. Her open letter also criticised 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to disband 바카라사이트 National Science and Technology Council, a?Cabinet subcommittee designed to encourage more science investment across Whitehall.

Ms Ghani, who supported 바카라사이트 prime minister in 바카라사이트 Conservative leadership election, was appointed a?minister at?BEIS on 7?September, but her brief took several weeks to be confirmed.

However, 바카라사이트 MP for Wealden on science and research on behalf of BEIS last week, including on 바카라사이트 level of Innovate?UK funding that would go to universities in future years.

Ms Ghani was a junior transport minister under Theresa May, becoming 바카라사이트 first Muslim female minister to speak at 바카라사이트 Dispatch Box. However, she was sacked in Mr?Johnson¡¯s first reshuffle ¨C a move made, she claimed, because her .

The first member of her family to enter higher education, she studied politics at Birmingham City University and later gained a master¡¯s degree in international relations at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

Since becoming an MP in 2015, she has mentioned science on only a few occasions in 바카라사이트 House of Commons, but she served as a rapporteur for 바카라사이트 Nato Parliamentary Assembly¡¯s subcommittee on science and technology.

In August 2021, she authored a paper for 바카라사이트 committee that called on Nato members to?enhance 바카라사이트ir science and technology links with Japan, South Korea and Singapore, stating that 바카라사이트 ¡°rise of China¡± was a ¡°central driver¡± of security concerns in 바카라사이트 Asia-Pacific region.

Her appointment may lead to a tougher line on academic collaborations between Chinese and UK academics, several of which have already been cancelled amid growing security concerns.

In Parliament, Ms Ghani has been one of China¡¯s strongest critics. In March 2021, she was one of five MPs sanctioned by China for spreading what it called ¡°lies and disinformation¡± about 바카라사이트 country after condemning what she has called 바카라사이트 ¡°absolute of 바카라사이트 genocide of?바카라사이트 Uighur people¡± at 바카라사이트 hands of 바카라사이트 Chinese state. The sanctions, , were a?¡°badge of?honour¡±.

The following month, Ms Ghani proposed a motion to Parliament stating that China was on 바카라사이트 Muslim minority group, which was passed unanimously.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com