RISHI Sunak yesterday defended keeping minister Michelle Donelan in her job despite taxpayers’ money being used to pay damages on her behalf.
The Science Secretary faces quit calls after her department spent £15,000 settling a libel case.
Ms Donelan had falsely accused Professor Kate Sang of supporting terror group Hamas.
Asked why she was still in her post, the PM said: “My understanding of this is that Michelle raised some concerns about some articles that had been shared talking about what happened on 7 October
“Subsequently to that, those thoughts I think have been clarified and Michelle has withdrawn those concerns.
“With regard to the settlement, it is a long-standing convention stretching back many years, over different governments of all different parties, including Labour, that the government will fund those legal disputes when it relates to government ministers doing their work.”
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Ms Mordaunt said she valued taxpayers’ money because she turned down a nearly £17,000 payment after serving as Education Secretary for 36 hours.
Labour called the payment “a new low”.