Vallance assumes key science ministerial role

Vallance, who is one of several non-politicians appointed to government roles, played a frontline role in Whitehall during the Covid emergency and lockdown during Boris Johnson’s premiership.

His tenure as chief scientific adviser began during Theresa May’s tenure at 10 Downing Street, lasting from 2018 to 2023. Vallance’s career also spans periods in academia and business.

In addition to teaching at St George’s and UCL’s medical schools (the latter as head of department), Vallance was president of R&D at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and was appointed Natural History Museum chair in 2022.

While most ministers are chosen from the ranks of the governing party’s MPs in order that they can participate in the House of Commons, non-politicians are usually appointed to the House of Lords.

While Vallance’s scientific expertise makes him a key member of the Science, Innovation and Technology team, as minister of state he will report to secretary of state Peter Kyle.

As Laboratory News went to press, new premier Sir Keir Starmer had yet to make most junior ministerial announcements, including those of Kyle’s parliamentary team.

The member of the former Shadow team with the strongest STEM credentials, Imperial College engineering graduate and ex-telecomms technology head at Ofcom, Chi Omwunrah MP, previously held responsibility for the science and R&D component which now appears to fall into much of Vallance’s brief.

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