Rory Stewart emerges as frontrunner in online vote for new chancellor of Oxford
RORY STEWART has emerged as a contender to be Oxford’s next chancellor, with voting for the prestigious role to be held online for the first time.
The competition has begun after Lord Patten of Barnes, the former Conservative party chairman, announced his plans to retire at the end of this academic year from the role he has held for more than two decades.
The chancellor is the largely ceremonial head of the university, who is “usually an eminent public figure elected for life” and “presides over all major ceremonies”, according to Oxford University’s website.
William Hill opened betting on Oxford’s next chancellor yesterday, naming Mr Stewart, a former diplomat who served as international development secretary under Theresa May, as the front runner.
Mr Stewart recently joined Yale University in Connecticut as professor in the practice of grand strategy.
The former politicians, who also hosts The Rest Is Politics podcast with Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor, studied history and philosophy, politics and economics at Balliol.
Responding to the speculation, he said: “This is a very interesting idea and an amazing role, but I would have to think hard about whether I am the right candidate.”
Oxford graduates and academics who are eligible to take part will be asked to vote for their new chancellor online.
During the last election in 2003, voting was held entirely in person at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre and more than 8,000 people took part.
It is expected that far more people could vote this year as the university prepares to move to an electronic voting system.
At the last election, Lord Patten, who was the last governor of Hong Kong, beat rival candidates including the Lord Bingham of Cornhill, the senior law lord who died in 2010, and Sandi Toksvig, the broadcaster and comedian, who pledged to campaign for student fees to be scrapped.
Oxford has not yet confirmed how the nominations process will work this year, nor the time frame. However, Oxford dons have already been speculating on potential candidates for the role, which has previously been held by the Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, the former Labour chancellor and home secretary; Harold Macmillan, the former prime minister; and Edward Wood, the 1st Earl of Halifax, who was viceroy of India.