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Former UK science minister returns as Brexit government assembles

Jo Johnson is back at the science ministry while hard-line Brexiters take leading roles.
  1. Elizabeth Gibney
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In a dramatic first day as UK prime minister, Boris Johnson appointed a cabinet of ministers in charge of the country’s finances, immigration and science funding, who are generally more conservative than their predecessors and more in favour the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without a deal. Johnson also appointed Dominic Cummings — a controversial political strategist who has strong views on science and research policy — as one of his senior advisers.

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Nature 572, 14 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-02298-w

Additional reporting by Holly Else and Quirin Schiermeier.

Updates & Corrections

  • Update 29 July 2019: On 26 July, Jo Johnson confirmed that he has been appointed as universities and science minister. Former science minister Chris Skidmore, has moved to the Department of Health and Social Care. The text has been amended to reflect this.

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