William Hague wins University of Oxford chancellor election

Former foreign secretary Lord Hague of Richmond has been elected the next chancellor of the University of Oxford.

Flipping the result of this year’s UK general election, the ex-Conservative leader saw off competition from leading Labour politicians, including former business secretary Lord Mandelson and Baroness Royall, who was leader of the House of Lords during Gordon Brown’s premiership and is now principal of Somerville College, Oxford.

Lord Hague will succeed another Tory heavyweight, Lord Patten of Barnes, when he is formally inaugurated in the ceremonial role early in the new year. He will serve a term of 10 years.

Lord Hague, a graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford, and former president of the Oxford Union, said that it was the “greatest honour of my life” to become the university’s chancellor.

He led the polling through four stages of voting among Oxford’s Convocation, made up of university alumni and staff. Some 24,908 people cast their ballots in this second round of voting, using the alternative transferable vote system.

In the first round, Lord Hague won 9,589 votes, well ahead of Lady Elish Angiolini, principal of St Hugh’s College, Oxford and a former lord advocate of Scotland, on 6,296. Baroness Royall attracted 3,599 votes, in front of Lord Mandelson on 2,940 and Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, who was eliminated with 2,484.

Lord Mandelson and Baroness Royall were eliminated in turn before Lord Hague beat Lady Angiolini in the final round by 12,609 to 11,006.

Following his election, Lord Hague paid tribute to the other candidates “for their commitment to the future of Oxford”.

“What happens at Oxford in the next decade is critical to the success of the UK. I look forward to working closely with the vice-chancellor and her team, along with students and alumni, to build on their excellent work,” the peer said.

“My heart and soul are in Oxford and I will dedicate myself in the coming years to serving the university I love.”

A number of other candidates had been eliminated in a first round of voting, including Lord Willetts, the former universities minister. Imran Khan, the ex-cricketer and former prime minister of Pakistan, had applied for the role but was apparently barred from standing because he is currently serving a prison term relating to corruption charges.

Irene Tracey, the university’s vice-chancellor, said she was “delighted to welcome Lord Hague back to Oxford as its 160th chancellor”.

“William is a great friend to Oxford and is someone who I know will serve and represent this magnificent institution with dignity and vigour,” she said.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com