Forest of Dean MP supports minister who made false Hamas claims against academic

A minister who made false claims about an academic backing Hamas "followed official advice", an MP has said.

Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper said Science Secretary Michelle Donelan's decision would have gone through "checks and balances".

But the £15,000 cost to taxpayers in damages to the academic has caused controversy.

Mr Harper said taxpayers and the government should "stand behind" ministerial decisions.

The sum was paid "without admitting any liability", the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said.

On Tuesday, Ms Donelan retracted comments she made last year about Professor Kate Sang, who launched a libel action after the minister tweeted a letter she had written accusing the professor of sharing "extremist views" and expressing sympathy for Hamas after its 7 October attacks in Israel.

Ms Donelan said there was "no evidence" Prof Sang was a supporter of Hamas, and that she had "misunderstood" social media posts.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats have both demanded that Ms Donelan pay the bill for the damages and legal costs herself, while the University and College Union (UCU) - which represents many academics - described her position as "untenable".

"She received official advice about it and she followed the advice," Mr Harper said.

"I think things have obviously not ended in the way she would have wanted but she followed proper advice.

"For minsters in their official capacity, my understanding is this was to do with a body that's connected to her department. So then I think it's appropriate that the taxpayer does that."

Mr Harper said there are "checks and balances" that ministers have to go through.

"A senior official in the department has to sign these things off to make sure these things are being done properly," he added.

"But I think the principle, that if you're doing things in a ministerial capacity, that the tax payer and the government stands behind you, is the right one. Otherwise you'd never get anyone willing to be a minister to make decisions about anything."

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