Labour tipped to ‘change focus’ on next UKRI leader

Recruitment process well underway before election, but new science minister may have “names up sleeve”

The Labour government is likely to “refresh” its list of candidates being considered for UK Research and Innovation’s next chief executive, according to policy experts—with one warning ministers will have to “step carefully” if they reopen a recruitment process that reached an advanced stage before the election. 

While the Conservative government was eyeing a business figure for the post, new science minister Patrick Vallance is seen as likely to have a different set of preferred candidates.