Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s reported plans to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) has been met with dismay from tech advocates, former PMs, and ministers across parties.

Burnham, who becomes the UK’s newest Prime Minister today (20 July), has reportedly requested government officials to draft plans to scrap DSIT, the department in charge of government initiatives surrounding serious tech advancements like AI, quantum, and funding for innovative research.

While the plans have yet to be signed off – reports began before Burnham takes office – tech experts and government officials have mounted their objections to the reported dissolution of the department.

The original report from the Financial Times reported that a senior Labour source said that some of DSIT could be absorbed into the government’s business department: “It needs to be mainstreamed and there is the sense that DSIT has not been firing on all cylinders.”

The plans reportedly see DSIT largely becoming a part of a larger business department, while public sector AI will be overseen by Antonia Romeo, the cabinet secretary, instead of a minister.

Is this the potential sidelining of AI in government policy? If so, tech leaders could deem this a massive mistake.

Former AI advisor to both Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak, Matt Clifford, wrote on X that scrapping DSIT “would be a big mistake.”

Clifford continued: “Right now is a critical moment for tech as an economic and national security issue. Tying up our most senior science and tech officials in a reorg wastes time and energy that’s desperately needed for the actual substance.”

UK tech advocates have tried to urge Burnham to reverse the plans, which were reported on over the weekend, ahead of the key cabinent appointments he is expected to make today as he takes office.

CEO of Tech UK Julian Harris and Startup Coalition executive director Dom Hallas wrote a letter to Burnham, who described the plans as “the wrong change at the wrong time.”

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The letter said: “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 change 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.”

It remains uncertain if this torrent of trepidation will sway Burnham ahead of his official ascension to PM today.