The chief executive of UK Research and Innovation has pledged that the organisation is “fully committed to the principles of freedom of speech”, amid mounting criticism of its suspension of an equality body at the behest of science secretary Michelle Donelan, who objected to what she termed “extremist” social media posts by members on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
At least seven academics are thought to have resigned from UKRI advisory positions in the wake of the suspension of Research England’s equality, diversity and inclusion advisory group.
And the University and College Union has warned that it will call on more scholars to do the same if UKRI does not reverse course.
In a letter to UKRI chief executive Dame Ottoline Leyser, Ms Donelan had said she was “outraged” that one group member had described the Westminster government’s plans to crack down on support for Hamas in the UK as “disturbing” and condemned the “amplification” by another academic of a post that condemned violence on both sides but referenced Israel’s “genocide and apartheid”.
