Cupboard Minister Michelle Donelan paid an undisclosed sum and apologized to a professor after falsely suggesting he supported Hamas.
The science secretary made the claims about Professor Kate Sang, an educational at Heriot Watt College, in a letter printed on social media in October.
The sum paid was lined by taxpayers to stop extended authorized prices, the BBC reported.
Prof Sang mentioned Ms Donelan had attacked her to make a “low cost political level”.
The letter adopted the appointment of Prof Sang, in addition to Dr Kamna Patel from College Faculty London, to an advisory group on equality, range and inclusion at UK Analysis and Innovation (UKRI) , a public physique that manages authorities analysis funding.
Ms Donelan accused the 2 girls of sharing extremist content material on-line and mentioned that they had breached the Nolan Ideas, which set out how public officers ought to behave.
She additionally advised that Professor Sang had expressed sympathy and assist for Hamas.
Professor Sang had beforehand shared a Guardian article on authorities plans to crack down on pro-Palestinian marches and referred to as the plans “disturbing”, whereas Dr Patel had retweeted a put up describing Israel's actions in Gaza as “genocide and apartheid”.
Ms Donelan – who has been secretary of state for science, innovation and know-how since July – spoke of her “disgust and outrage” on the appointments and referred to as on UKRI to take away the 2 girls from the group .
A months-long investigation by UKRI discovered no proof that Prof Sang or Dr Patel had breached the phrases of reference of their function or the Nolan rules.
In an announcement launched to X on Tuesday, Ms Donelan admitted she had made a mistake and had “misunderstood” the social media posts.
She mentioned she had eliminated her unique put up and absolutely accepted that Prof Sang was “not an extremist, a supporter of Hamas or another proscribed organisation”.
Hamas, or in some instances simply its armed wing, is taken into account a terrorist group by Israel, the US, the EU and the UK, amongst others.
Professor Sang mentioned: “I’m delighted that this matter is now concluded, however very disturbed by the way in which by which Michelle Donelan and UKRI are behaving.
“If that they had requested me firstly, I’d have defined the true place. As a substitute, Michelle Donelan made an affordable political level at my expense and brought about critical injury to my repute.
“I suggest to donate a part of the damages he paid to a charity.”
Dr Patel described the expertise as “harrowing”, saying she was “glad” the trial was over.
She mentioned: “There was by no means a necessity for UKRI to research because it ought to have been apparent from the beginning that we didn’t breach the Nolan rules or specific extremist views.”
A Downing Avenue supply mentioned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had “full confidence” in “a superb minister” Ms Donelan.
Shadow science secretary Peter Kyle mentioned the accusation of a researcher sharing extremist materials and sympathizing with a banned group was “a brand new low in authorities requirements”.
The cost to Prof. Sang got here from the Division of Science, Innovation and Know-how (DSIT).
The cost was made to scale back the general value to the taxpayer that might end result from protracted authorized motion, the BBC understands.
Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem MP, mentioned the general public can be “shocked” by means of taxpayers' funds for the cost and referred to as for a Cupboard Workplace inquiry to ascertain “precisely what occurred, if some guidelines have been damaged and the way a lot public cash was spent.” .
