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The function could also be unpaid and largely ceremonial, nevertheless it stays among the many most esteemed positions in British public life.
From Tory grandees to the odd member of the landed gentry, the checklist of Oxford chancellors can at instances learn like a who’s who of the UK’s storied previous.
A number of the most well-known figures in British historical past have occupied the function, together with Oliver Cromwell and the Duke of Wellington, to newer figures corresponding to Harold Macmillan and the incumbent, Chris Patten.
Former Conservative chief William Hague and imprisoned ex-Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan are among the many 30 candidates to have thrown their hat within the ring for the place.
If profitable, Lord Hague could be the thirty sixth William to carry the publish, whereas if Elish Angiolini gained, she would the primary girl.
Round 250,000 college employees and alumni will vote within the election subsequent month, after Lord Patten introduced his retirement earlier this 12 months.
Right here, The Impartial takes a take a look at the frontrunners vying to turn out to be the following chancellor of the celebrated college.
William Hague
Former Conservative Celebration chief Lord Hague confirmed in August that he’ll run to turn out to be Oxford College’s subsequent chancellor.
Lord Hague attended Oxford, learning philosophy, politics and economics at Magdalen School.
Following the landslide 1997 common election defeat to Tony Blair’s Labour, Lord Hague was elected chief of the Conservative Celebration, changing John Main.
Peter Mandelson
Labour grandee Peter Mandelson introduced his candidacy on the finish of July.
Chatting with the Monetary Occasions, the previous Labour enterprise secretary, mentioned: “I do really feel passionately about universities and given I studied at Oxford it’s an necessary place to me.”
The previous EU commerce commissioner studied philosophy, politics and economics at St Catherine’s School.
In April 2016, Lord Mandelson grew to become chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan College. He has introduced he shall be stepping down from this function.
Elish Angiolini
Elish Angiolini is a distinguished lawyer and former solicitor common of Scotland.
She is at present professional vice-chancellor of the College of Oxford and has served because the principal of St Hugh’s School, Oxford since 2012.
Woman Angiolini has performed unbiased inquiries for governments, together with into the homicide of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.
If profitable, she could be the primary girl chancellor because the publish was established in 1224.
Imran Khan
Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan is operating for chancellor of Oxford College from jail.
Mr Khan is at present imprisoned in Pakistan whereas he contests a sequence of authorized challenges, principally involving corruption prices, all of which his supporters denounce as being politically motivated.
The previous star cricketer, 72, was prime minister from 2018 to 2022 earlier than being ousted in a no-confidence movement.
Mr Khan, an Oxford alumnus, served as chancellor of the College of Bradford for eight years.
… and the ‘anti-woke outsider’: Reverend Matthew Firth
Anglican clergyman Matthew Firth is the self-professed “anti-establishment” and “anti-woke” candidate.
He mentioned that he’ll castigate the college if it “walks the way in which of wokery”.
“At a time when so many nice tutorial establishments are being ruined by woke ideology, I might search to name the College of Oxford to stroll a unique path: a path of reality, unity, magnificence and goodness, within the gentle of the Lord,” he instructed The Occasions.
“Ought to the college or any school or division stroll the way in which of wokery, or ought to any a part of the college erode freedom of speech and tutorial inquiry, I might provide a powerful public rebuke.”
Reverend Firth studied astrophysics at Magdalene School, Cambridge College, and theology at Wycliffe Corridor, Oxford.
The election
The complete checklist of candidates shall be introduced in early October.
Voting shall be held on-line from 28 October. Solely Oxford graduates and members of the college’s congregation, together with tutorial employees, are in a position to vote.
The 5 candidates with essentially the most votes will enter a second spherical on 17 November. The brand new chancellor shall be introduced the next week.
The chancellor chairs the college committee, appointing the vice-chancellor and is concerned in fundraising, advocacy and oversight.