Andrew Griffith named new UK science minister

Andrew Griffith has been appointed the UK’s science minister, following the resignation of George Freeman.

Mr Griffith, the MP for Arundel and South Downs, was previously the city minister.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the University of Nottingham graduate said that he was “delighted” to become minister of state for science, research and innovation.

“We’re on the forefront of revolutionary technological development and I look forward to building on my work as city minister to unleash capital to support these exciting opportunities,” he said.

He described his new role as being “all about the sort of opportunities [British] investors should back”.

Before entering Parliament, Mr Griffith was an accountant who worked for Rothschild & Co and PwC before joining Sky and rising to become its chief financial officer.

After being elected as an MP in 2019, he served as Boris Johnson’s parliamentary private secretary in Downing Street, before becoming director of the Number 10 Policy Unit and then a trade minister. He was financial secretary to the Treasury when Liz Truss was prime minister, serving under chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng during the crisis brought about by a disastrous mini-budget.

Mr Griffith’s background in accountancy marks him out from his predecessor, Mr Freeman, who spent 15 years prior to joining politics in the Cambridge biotechnology sector, founding and financing four biomedical start-ups.

Mr Freeman stepped down as prime minister Rishi Sunak conducted a Cabinet reshuffle, saying it was time “to focus on my health, family well-being and life beyond the front bench”.

It is the second time that Mr Freeman has resigned from the post. He was first appointed by Boris Johnson in September 2021 but resigned in the chaotic dying days of that administration just eight months later. He was reappointed by Mr Sunak in October 2022.

Mr Griffith will serve under Michelle Donelan, the science secretary.

Sarah Main, executive director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said that Mr Griffith’s “experience of business and innovation, inside and outside of parliament, will bring a fresh perspective on the UK science economy. We look forward to helping him connect with the full breadth of the research community to help put science and engineering at the heart of the UK’s future.”

Earlier in the reshuffle, Suella Braverman was sacked as home secretary and replaced by James Cleverly, in a move that could have significant implications for the UK’s positioning toward international student recruitment. Former prime minister David Cameron has replaced Mr Cleverly as foreign secretary.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com