UK researchers need to know academic freedom is safe from political interference

In late October, the UK science secretary Michelle Donelan launched an unprecedented public intervention by calling for the disbandment of an advisory panel on equality in research because of its members’ comments on social media. The move has undermined diversity and inclusion efforts in the research sector, and caused an uproar among academics concerned about their freedom of speech.

Days after the announcement of Research England’s new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee, Donelan wrote an open letter to the chief executive of UKRI (Research England’s parent body) making the contentious claim that two committee members had shared ‘extremist views’ on social media and called for the panel to be dissolved.