Michelle Donelan’s libel damages payment not approved by me, Jeremy Hunt claims

Jeremy Hunt has claimed a £15,000 settlement paid by the taxpayer to an academic who was falsely accused of supporting Hamas by Michelle Donelan was not “approved” by him.

The science secretary has come under fire after she was forced to retract comments she made about Professor Kate Sang last year.

It cost taxpayers £15,000 to cover damages and the sum was paid “without admitting any liability”, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

“The chancellor only approves much larger sums of money,” Mr Hunt told BBC Breakfast on Thursday 7 March, when asked if he signed off the payment.