UKRI reinstates diversity advisory group after investigation

UKRI suspended its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group last year after the UK secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Michelle Donelan, wrote an open letter in October 2023 criticising comments posted by members of the group on social media about the Israel-Hamas war.

In a separate open letter responding to Donelan, Ottoline Leyser, chief executive at UKRI, said the organisation had decided to suspend the advisory group and launch an investigation into Donelan’s claims, as well as carry out a wider review about the future of advisory structures more generally at UKRI.

In a statement on Tuesday 5^th March, UKRI said its investigation “found no evidence of a breach” of the EDI Advisory Group’s terms of reference or the Nolan Principles, which covers standards in public life.

“Moreover, the UKRI board found no evidence in the public domain of support for a proscribed terrorist organisation or the sharing of extremist material and no grounds to remove any individual members of the Research England Expert Advisory Group on EDI,” the statement added.

UKRI said in its statement that it regretted any difficulties faced by members of the advisory group and said it would invite the group members to reconvene and continue work.

Donelan also posted an apology on social media platform X to Professor Kate Sang of Heriot-Watt University yesterday ( 5th March) and paid damages over the claims, as well as deleting her original tweet on the matter.

In her apology, Donelan said that she accepted Sang was neither an extremist nor a supporter of Hamas.

UKRI chief executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said: “Our intention, as soon as these concerns were raised by the secretary of state, was to adopt a well-governed process to support evidenced, principled decisions.

“I am grateful for the thorough work of all those involved in this investigation. 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 the UK.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: “We are grateful for the work on the independent investigation into the appointment and membership of this advisory group and accept the findings of the report.”