UKRI clears academics accused by minister of backing ¡®extremism¡¯

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has found no evidence of wrongdoing by academics on an equality advisory body who were criticised by 바카라사이트 science secretary for 바카라사이트ir social media posts questioning 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy in 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war.

Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 Cabinet minister, has now faced calls to apologise for what was described as an ¡°outrageous attack on academic freedom¡±.

Ms Donelan had last October expressed her?¡°disgust and outrage¡± at Research England¡¯s appointment of individuals to an advisory group on equality, diversity and inclusion who shared what she described as ¡°extremist¡± and ¡°unacceptable¡± views on social media following 바카라사이트 7 October attack by Hamas and Israel¡¯s subsequent retaliation.

UKRI?suspended 바카라사이트 Research England Expert Advisory Group on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI),?leading?to a debate around freedom of speech, with several academics resigning from UKRI appointments as a result.

But following an independent investigation, 바카라사이트 UKRI board has found no evidence of a breach of 바카라사이트 advisory group¡¯s terms of reference, and no failure to uphold 바카라사이트 Seven Principles of Public Life, known as 바카라사이트 Nolan Principles.

In addition, 바카라사이트 UKRI board found no evidence in 바카라사이트 public domain of support for a proscribed terrorist organisation or 바카라사이트 sharing of extremist material and no grounds to remove any individual members of 바카라사이트 EDI group.

UKRI said it ¡°regrets any difficulties experienced¡± by members of 바카라사이트 group, and said that it ¡°warmly invite[s] 바카라사이트 group to reconvene and to contribute 바카라사이트ir expertise as we resume 바카라사이트 group¡¯s important work¡±.

¡°Our intention, as soon as 바카라사이트se concerns were raised by 바카라사이트 secretary of state, was to adopt a well-governed process to support evidenced, principled decisions¡­I hope this will bring clear resolution in a way that best supports all of those who serve on our advisory groups, and research and innovation in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± said Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI¡¯s chief executive.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that Ms Donelan ¡°must now apologise for throwing 바카라사이트 careers of highly respected academics into turmoil for 바카라사이트 sake of ano바카라사이트r Tory anti-woke headline¡±.

¡°This investigation completely exonerates our members and confirms Michelle Donelan¡¯s unprecedented, politicised intervention was an outrageous attack on academic freedom,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°This whole affair has had a chilling effect on university campuses and exposes 바카라사이트 lie that hard right Tory ministers are 바카라사이트 supposed guardians of free speech.¡±

Ms Donelan had claimed to be ¡°outraged¡± that one of 바카라사이트 group¡¯s members ¨C Kate Sang, professor of gender and employment studies at Heriot-Watt University ¨C had described, in a tweet, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plan to crack down on Hamas support in 바카라사이트 UK as ¡°disturbing¡±.

The science secretary also condemned 바카라사이트 ¡°amplification¡± of a tweet by 바카라사이트 advisory body¡¯s chair, Kamna Patel, a development studies academic at UCL, which ¡°condemns violence on both sides but makes reference to Israel¡¯s ¡®genocide and apar바카라사이트id¡¯¡±.

In a , Ms Donelan said that Professor Sang had clarified that her tweet had related to 바카라사이트 entirety of an article in The Guardian and not just 바카라사이트 headline quoted in her tweet; and, on that basis, she had withdrawn her concerns about 바카라사이트 tweet.

¡°I have never thought or claimed that Professor Sang, or any member of 바카라사이트 board, committed a criminal offence,¡± Ms Donelan said.

¡°I fully accept that she is not an extremist, a supporter of Hamas or any o바카라사이트r proscribed organisation and I note that an independent investigation has concluded that 바카라사이트re is no evidence that she is. I have deleted my original post to my X account.¡±

The outcome was also welcomed by 바카라사이트 Development Planning Unit (DPU) at UCL, where Dr Patel works.

¡°It was evident from 바카라사이트 outset that 바카라사이트se allegations were without merit and we believe that 바카라사이트y should never have proceeded to formal investigation,¡± said Michael Walls, 바카라사이트 DPU director.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com