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Michelle Donelan: Should taxpayers foot the bill for a minister’s false claim?

Michelle Donelan: Should taxpayers foot the bill for a minister’s false claim?

Should taxpayers pay the bill for a minister’s failings? That is the question surrounding Michelle Donelan, the UK’s science secretary, after it emerged that British taxpayers covered the £15,000 damages paid to an academic whom Donelan falsely accused of supporting Hamas. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology this week confirmed it had paid damages to Professor Kate Sang “without admitting any liability”. Donelan was also forced to apologise and retract her false allegation that Sang had shared “extremist views” and expressed sympathy for Hamas after its 7 October attack on Israel. Conservative MPs are now privately expressing their dismay, while political rivals push for Donelan to repay the £15,000 bill.


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