Chris McDonald has emerged as the frontrunner to become the next UK science minister, following Patrick Vallance’s resignation earlier this week, Research Professional News understands. McDonald, who has an industrial research background, was appointed minister of state at the newly created Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Dbist) late on 22 July after a reshuffle by prime minister Andy Burnham.
Under Burnham, the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has been absorbed into the former Department of Business and Trade, forming a larger ministry that ties research and innovation policy more closely to the government’s industrial strategy. Jonathan Reynolds, who led the development of that strategy, was appointed as secretary of state for the expanded department earlier this week.
“Chris McDonald is frontrunner to replace Patrick Vallance as UK science minister after appointment to new merged department.”
If confirmed as science minister, McDonald would have oversight of UK Research and Innovation and play a key role in the UK’s potential association to the EU’s next Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.