Starmer picks Peter Kyle as shadow science secretary

Labour has appointed Peter Kyle shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology in the UK Parliament.

In a reshuffle of the shadow Cabinet on 4 September, the Hove MP was named as the opposition counterpart to Michelle Donelan, who was named science secretary when the Cabinet-level role was created in February.

The shadow secretary position has remained unfilled since then, with Chi Onwurah continuing to take the shadow science minister role, which is fulfilled in Whitehall by the Conservatives’ George Freeman.

The backbencher Darren Jones had been tipped for the role for some months, but he has been named shadow chief secretary to the Treasury. Another contender was shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell – the only Labour shadow minister with a science degree – who has been made shadow leader of the House of Commons.

Mr Kyle, who was previously shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, has also been shadow minister for schools, and for victims and youth violence.

He supported Jess Phillips in the 2020 Labour leadership election won by Sir Keir Starmer and strongly criticised former leader Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, backing a failed attempt to replace him in 2016.

The former boss of a youth charity has spoken of his difficulties with dyslexia at school, which saw him leave education without qualifications before taking his A levels at the age of 25, and then attending the University of Sussex for his undergraduate degree and later a doctorate in community development.

In an interview with The Times in July 2021, Mr Kyle said he had a “reading age of only eight”, and “still struggles with briefing papers, often working late into the night and using highlighter pens and loads of notes to digest and prioritise information”.

The Labour reshuffle at the start of parliamentary session is likely to be the last reorganisation of Sir Keir’s top team ahead of the next general election, which is expected to take place next year, giving an insight into who will hold which government jobs if Labour returns to power in 2024.

Mr Kyle would lead the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which replaced the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in February.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson was expected to remain in post.

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com