Oxford’s vice-chancellor has denied that the university has become “woke” in changing the way it chooses its chancellor.
Professor Irene Tracey said there was “no question” of positive discrimination in electing the next chancellor of the institution — 800 years after its first.
Senior ministers have accused the university of trying to “stitch up” the election in an attempt to make sure the job does not go to another older, white, male politician. Instead of voting in person in Oxford, a panel will reveal a list of eligible candidates and all Oxford graduates can vote online.
The successful candidate will replace Lord Patten of Barnes, the former governor of Hong Kong, former chairman of the BBC and minister under Margaret Thatcher. Previous incumbents include Harold Macmillan, the Earl of Halifax and the Duke of Wellington.
Possible successors are believed to include the Oxford graduates Sir Tony Blair, Rory Stewart and Theresa May, who would become the first woman in the role.
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Neil O’Brien, a former levelling up minister, said of the new process: “The university seems intent on imposing an eastern bloc-style ‘managed democracy’ in which a small group will choose who, if anyone, is allowed to go forward for ‘election’. You can’t help but feel that this looks like a deliberate attempt by academics to ensure that the kind of person they want to see elected is elected.”
Tracey hit back against accusations of “wokeism” in a letter to The Times, saying that the committee would not vet candidates.
• Letters to the editor: Oxford’s new chancellor
In her first comments on the controversy she said: “These will be huge shoes to fill, we do hope the attention generated will ensure that a great number of equally inspiring people will apply for the role.
“By allowing online voting, we allow many more people to vote, and rather than ‘vetting’ candidates as reported, the election committee chaired by Lord Reed, the high steward of the university, will only be ensuring those who are put forward to the vote are eligible — there will be no sift of suitability.
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“This will therefore be the most open and democratic election of a chancellor in our history. In considering eligibility we will of course comply with equality legislation, but there is no question of positive discrimination as feared by some. Democracy is alive and well at Oxford.”
The committee must legally comply with the public sector equality duty.
Previously any Oxford graduate wanting to vote for the next chancellor had to turn up at the university on the day in full academic dress. A source close to the university said the new process would make the election fairer and open to those who could not afford to take time off work or hire formal wear for the occasion.
Under the former system, candidates needed to be nominated by 50 members of the university’s convocation, which is made up mostly of former Oxford students, but this is no longer the case. Anyone can, in theory, be elected. More than 8,000 Oxford graduates voted in the last election in 2003, from a choice that included the comedian Sandi Toksvig.
The role is largely ceremonial — the chancellor’s most important function is to chair the committee responsible for appointing the vice-chancellor, who is responsible for the day to day running of the institution — but is a considerable time commitment.
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The position is normally lifelong but Patten has decided to stand aside after 20 years, telling The Times that he had been attending about 60 big events a year, adding: “I thought it was both in my personal interest and in Oxford’s interest to have the chance of choosing someone else with a fresh set of insights and experiences.”
