Who’s sorry now?

Michelle Donelan apologises as science department officials throw themselves under the bus

Well, now we know why the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology felt it necessary to pick up the bill for damages and costs in the libel action brought against the science secretary. Yesterday, Michelle Donelan and the department’s permanent secretary Sarah Munby gave evidence to the House of Lords science and technology committee.

Donelan’s earlier retraction of claims made about a member of the Research England equality, diversity and inclusion advisory panel, issued in a settlement “without liability”, had been characterised by some as a ‘sorry not sorry’ statement. Downing Street has given its full backing to the science secretary.