Lord Vallance to chair Prime Minister's new AI Taskforce as UK government moves AI into the center of Whitehall

The former chief scientific adviser will report directly to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with AI Minister Kanishka Narayan leading the unit from the new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, and Vallance also taking the chair of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor. Lord Vallance, the former Government Chief Scientific Adviser, now chairs the Prime Minister's AI Taskforce and the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor Lord Patrick Vallance has been appointed chair of a new AI Taskforce established by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, in a move the Cabinet Office says positions AI at the center of government for the first time. The Taskforce is charged with directing and implementing the government's overall AI strategy, transforming public services, and supporting growth across the country. The government says the unit draws lessons from models such as the Vaccines Taskforce, arguing that an empowered team with clear accountability to the Prime Minister can deliver faster outcomes. Vallance, as chair, will report directly to the Prime Minister. The Taskforce itself reports to Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan, who will lead the unit and attend Cabinet. Prime Minister Andy Burnham says: "AI is rapidly changing our world and we need to make sure it works for everyone. The opportunities are huge if we get it right and I want AI to power a new industrial revolution that drives good growth in every postcode." Vallance says: "This government is sending a signal that's clearer than ever before about its commitment to realising the opportunities of AI and Science and Technology. The potential to transform public services, drive growth and improve people's lives is immense, and I intend to make sure we deliver on it." Taskforce to sit in new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet The Taskforce will be based with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh in the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (OPMC), which brings together No.10, No.10 North, and core Cabinet Office functions. It will also lead on AI adoption across the public sector, and responsibility for the existing AI Security Institute will move to the OPMC. Narayan says: "AI is likely the most significant technology in human history. That is why it is now at the UK Cabinet's table, so we can reindustrialise with AI, secure our country, and support our public services." In a LinkedIn post, Narayan added: "Patrick and I worked closely together before. We will now do so again, with the urgency and importance of the Vaccines Taskforce, applied to the central question of artificial intelligence." Vallance also named chair of Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor Alongside the Taskforce role, Vallance has been appointed chair of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor, a partnership with local government, business, and academia focused on innovation and removing constraints on growth. The role builds on his previous position as Ministerial Champion for the corridor. Vallance served as the UK's Government Chief Scientific Adviser from 2018 to 2023 and was previously president of research and development at pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline from 2012 to 2018. He served as Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear from 2024, resigning from government on 20 July 2026 ahead of the formation of the Burnham ministry. The government's announcement also describes him as best known for his leadership of the Vaccines Taskforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taskforce's first priorities include the direction and implementation of the government's AI strategy and enabling AI adoption across the public sector. The AI Security Institute will now sit within the Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet as part of the restructure. Subscribe to the ETIH newsletter Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. First Name Last Name Email Address Sign Up We respect your privacy and will not pass your email address on to third parties. However, we will occasionally send you promotional messages on behalf of our advertisers. Thank you!