Oxford University Chancellor: Runners and Riders
Candidates are coming out of the woodwork in the running for Oxford University’s Chancellorship. Peter Mandelson has been confirmed today to be gunning for the role, after shadow campaigning for some time. Someone’s given up on his ambassadorial dreams…
Chris Patten has served in the prized role since 2003. Were Mandelson to win he would be the first card-carrying Labour member in the role. He’s up against Tory big hitter William Hague, who announced last week. This time the Chancellor’s Election Committee has said it will remove candidates from the election process whom it does not consider “suitable” and it will give “due regard to the principles of equality and diversity“. Oxford undergrads will no doubt look past Willy’s un-diverse characteristics in hope of an official Hagueathon were he to win…
Rory Stewart and Theresa May have ruled themselves out. Guido provides the definitive runners and riders below:
- Peter Mandelson. Labour MPs are contacting alumni in WhatsApp groups to rustle up support for Mandelson…
- William Hague.
- Elish Angiolini: Current Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, KC who chaired the inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard. A dark horse candidate…
- Imran Khan: The former Pakistani PM is applying from prison and is supported by Peter Oborne, who says Khan must be supported despite a surely incoming “attempt by the British establishment” to block him. Uh-huh…
- Reverend Matthew Firth: Whistleblower of this year’s “fake baptisms” controversy, Firth is presenting himself as the “anti-woke, anti-establishment” candidate. Likely to take some votes off Hague…
- Professor Nigel Biggar: Famed for his more-balanced-than-most overview of the ethics of the British Empire, Biggar has supporters who’d like to witness the tears of the woke mob. Stranger things have happened…
- Maxim Parr-Reid: A recent undergraduate and tutor who’s put his hat in the ring. His Twitter campaign has 165 followers. A bit of work to do there…
- Onyeka Nwelue: a Nigerian writer who had his Academic Visitor status removed last year after he was found to be impersonating a professor for two years. He could always impersonate the Chancellor post-election…
- Ankur Shiv Bhandari: The former Mayor of Bracknell Forest. No stranger to self-promotion…
- Margaret Casely-Hayford: The outgoing Chancellor of the University of Coventry. Formerly Chairman of Shakespeare’s Globe who describes herself as “passionate about establishing diversity on boards.” Inspired…
- Harry Stratton: The socialist pick. A “union and student activist” who is “dedicated to fighting for fair working conditions and against fee increases,” Stratton says he is endorsed by John McDonnell. A famed winner…
Oxford won’t release a full list of candidates until early October. 250,000 alumni worldwide are entitled to vote online on the 28th in the first internet-based election. It’s a wide field…
