UK Prime Minister Burnham scraps tech department DSIT, elevates AI minister to Cabinet

Jul 21, 2026

New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has dissolved the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), merging its core functions into a beefed-up business department led by Jonathan Reynolds. While the move sparked a fierce backlash from tech leaders who warn it will stall critical policy momentum, Burnham sought to signal commitment to the sector by appointing Kanishka Narayan as the country's first AI minister with a seat in the Cabinet. The restructuring comes amid a widening AI confidence gap among UK business leaders and growing public concerns over facial recognition regulation.

DSIT dissolution into business department

▪The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was originally established in 2023 by former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
▪Responsibilities for digital transformation and online harms were transferred from the dissolved technology department to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
▪UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham dissolved the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, merging most responsibilities into the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
▪Prime Minister Andy Burnham dismissed Liz Kendall from her role as technology secretary on July 20, 2026.

Tech industry backlash over restructuring

▪Industry advocates warned that dismantling the technology department would slow momentum for key initiatives like the AI Safety Institute and the Sovereign AI fund.
▪Former government artificial intelligence adviser Matt Clifford criticized the reorganization of the technology department as a mistake that wastes critical time and energy.
▪TechUK Chief Executive Julian Harris and Startup Coalition Executive Director Dom Hallas sent a joint letter calling the dissolution of the technology department the wrong change.

Kanishka Narayan AI minister appointment

▪Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed Kanishka Narayan as the first United Kingdom artificial intelligence minister permitted to attend Cabinet meetings.
▪Kanishka Narayan is a Wales-born Labor Party politician of Indian origin who holds degrees from Oxford University and Stanford University.
▪Kanishka Narayan previously served as the Minister for AI and Online Safety under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer starting in September 2025.

UK business AI confidence gap

▪Research by consulting firm Expleo found that nearly one-third of United Kingdom business leaders believe losing artificial intelligence tools would not affect their work.
▪Only 24 percent of United Kingdom business leaders surveyed by Expleo believe their tasks would become more complex without artificial intelligence tools.

Facial recognition regulation concerns

▪Face Int UK & Europe CEO Tony Kounnis warned that departmental restructuring could disrupt necessary progress on regulating facial recognition technology.
▪United Kingdom citizens have raised concerns over privacy and excessive surveillance as police and businesses increasingly deploy facial recognition technology.