Willetts leaves post in cabinet reshuffle

David Willetts will no longer hold his post as Minister of State for Universities and Science in David Cameron’s Cabinet reshuffle. Willetts is reported to have resigned from his position prior to him standing down at next year’s General Election. Cameron also accepted the resignation of Greg Barker, energy and climate change minister, who is also standing down. Of the departure, Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “David Willetts has been an outstanding science minister, respected not only in the UK but throughout the world. He has kept science centre stage in the cabinet and has helped position science at the forefront of UK industrial strategy and economic recovery. His commitment, energy and pure enthusiasm for science will be sorely missed.” Imran Khan, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, said: “David Willetts is one of the UK’s sharpest and most talented politicians; we’ve been extraordinarily privileged to have him as the UK’s science minister for the past four years. We in the science sector like to moan about there not being enough scientists in Parliament, but it was obvious from early on that Willetts – despite not having had much to do with science previously – developed a genuine passion for the subject. You’d be hard-pressed to find many in our sector who have a bad word to say about him.” University of Manchester lecturer and TV personality Professor Brian Cox tweeted: "Very sad to see David Willetts go as science minister. He's been a great supporter of science." It is not yet known who will replace Willetts, the Conservative MP for Havant. Education Minister Liz Truss was tipped to fill the void, but instead has been appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and will oversee Defra’s science budget. Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove has been appointed Chief Whip, and is replaced by economic secretary to the treasury, Nicky Morgan, who will also continue in her role as Minister for Women and Equalities. Update:  David Cameron has confirmed by tweet: "Greg Clark is Minister for Science and Universities and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office. He will attend all Cabinets." This is in addition to his position as Minister of State for Cities and Constitution. In response, CaSE tweeted: "Looking forward to working with new Science and Unis Minster @gregclarkmp to build on some the UKs major strengths" Sarah Main, CaSE director later added: “I'm looking forward to working with Greg Clark as the new minister for universities and science.  He has a lot to offer the sector as an economist with a broad ministerial career spanning Treasury, Communities and Local Government, and Energy.  Obviously he will have his work cut out for him combining his cabinet office cities brief with universities and science and we will support him and his team in doing so.  We at CaSE want to see science and engineering at the heart of Government plans for growth and national prosperity.  Greg Clark's joint brief in cabinet office and BIS, with the right to attend cabinet, may help achieve that.  He will be able to capitalise on David Willetts' great work generating high level political support for science by securing Government support for long-term sustained investment in our globally exceptional science base.” Clark himself tweeted: “Thrilled to be appointed Minister for Universities, Science & Cities - building on the work of the brilliant David Willetts.” But should we be concerned? In 2007, when Shadow Minister for Charities, Voluntary Bodies and Social Enterprise, Clark signed the Early day motion 1240 NHS Homeopathic Hospitals which sought to recognise “the positive contribution made to the health of the nation by the NHS homeopathic hospitals”. None of the other previous incumbents in the same or similar roles were supporters of homeopathy. The motion was unsuccessful – a Science and Technology Committee's Report, Evidence Check on Homeopathy in 2010 stated that: “homeopathic remedies perform no better than placebos, and that the principles on which homeopathy is based are "scientifically implausible". Homeopathy is not available on the NHS in all areas of the country, although there are several NHS homeopathic hospitals, including one in Clark’s constituency of Royal Tunbridge Wells. George Freeman a former life sciences adviser to Willetts, was also given the newly created title of  Minister for Life Sciences, a joint ministerial position for both the Department of Health and Department of Business, Innovation & Skills.