New PM Andy Burnham appears to have scrapped the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Burnham's new cabinet does not include a Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, a role held by Liz Kendall until yesterday.
Jonathan Reynolds has become Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. He was previously Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade from 5 July 2024 to 5 September 2025. The role has now been expanded to include science and innovation, which were previously a separate department.
It became clear last week that Burnham may abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Ahead of becoming PM, techUK and the Startup Coalition wrote to Burnham urging him to reconsider.
Julian David, CEO at techUK and Dom Hallas Executive Director at the Startup Coalition said: "We want to be clear that we think this would be the wrong change at the wrong time.
"DSIT works because it brings researchers, AI practitioners, innovators and policymakers together in one department - a single front door that gives the tech sector clarity, pace and a government partner that understands technology and champions the sector in the Cabinet.
"Breaking up the work of DSIT endeavours such as the world-leading AI Safety Institute, the Sovereign AI fund, GDS and UKRI would slow momentum at a time when pace is essential for both the growth of the economy and our standing on the global stage. It also sends a terrible signal to a sector that is growing at 10% a year. This is clear from the immediate reaction of the sector to these reports thus far.
"We are supportive of your vision to bring growth to every postcode in Britain, and we want you to be able to leverage the tech sector to deliver on your ambitions to chair our economy and society for the better. To do so, we should use this moment to strengthen tech leadership at the heart of government, not dismantle it."
DSIT was created by Sunak's government in 2023, as a ministerial department, supported by 12 agencies and public bodies including. The department existed to "accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, ensure that new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK and drive forward a modern digital government for the benefit of its citizens."
Meanwhile, Kanishka Narayan has been appointed as Minister for Artificial Intelligence jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. He will attend cabinet.
He was previously Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from 7 September 2025 to 20 July 2026.
Narayan was elected MP for Vale of Glamorgan in July 2024, becoming Wales's first ethnic minority MP.
Narayan said on X: "AI is likely the most significant technology in human history. Its impact will dwarf other things.
"The best case for it is compelling beyond our dreams: a reindustrialised Britain, stronger national security, public services transformed for the better.
"The risks, too, are real: it is right that the British public shares those worries, for jobs, for the pace of change.
"The central fact is that it is happening. Nations have a narrow window to decide whether they shape AI or get shaped by it. Britain is in that window right now.
"While that window is still open, I will act with pace, I will act with ambition, and I will focus relentlessly on securing British influence in shaping AI."
Elsewhere, Burnham has also announced that he will scrap the Digital ID scheme to fund a cut in energy VAT.
Julian David, CEO of techUK said: "While the new government has scrapped its planned scheme, we must not turn away from digital verification technology given the huge benefits it offers. Well-designed digital verification services already available under the DVS Trust Framework enhance convenience, strengthen online security, protect people from fraud and support cross border trade.
"Government and industry must now come together to move faster and accelerate the adoption and use across the economy of digital verification services that industry already provides. This means pushing forward with secondary legislation to allow digital verification solutions to be used for alcohol sales, implementing information gateway powers that already exist under law and ensuring UK alignment with international schemes which could provide significant economic boost and support job creation. Structured engagement with industry is now key and should focus on developing a detailed long-term roadmap for enabling adoption of digital verification services across economy and society."
