Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
July 24, 2026
Experts respond to the announcement of Chris McDonald as Minister for Science.
Beth Thompson, Executive Director for Policy & Partnerships at Wellcome, said:
“We look forward to working with Jonathan Reynolds as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and Chris McDonald as Science Minister.
“Being serious about improving people’s lives means being serious about science.
Harnessing the full power of science is critical to achieving the aims of this – and any – government.
It is a sector in which the UK has enormous heritage and potential, providing the foundation for breakthroughs in health, technology and engineering.
Research commissioned by Wellcome shows that, even in this challenging economic environment, science and innovation remain a strong source of hope amongst the British public.
“To make the most of this opportunity, the new Department for Business, Science and Innovation and Trade must build on DSIT’s legacy.
There are benefits to merging the departments, but science cannot be relegated to only serving the needs of business.
DBIST must use the full strength of the UK’s science sector so it serves all corners of society.
The new Science Minister’s joint role across DBIST and DHSC provides exactly this opportunity, ensuring cutting-edge science can drive the NHS to deliver the best outcomes for patients.
“While recognising difficult decisions to be made, it’s clear that a focus on short-term growth must not compromise long-term investment in curiosity-driven research if we are to cement the UK’s reputation as the global partner of choice for R&D.
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* Labour business relations account on LinkedIn.
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