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Lord Peter Mandelson and Lord William Hague are in the race to become the next chancellor of the University of Oxford, one of the most venerable posts in British public life and sometimes seen as “the ultimate grandee role”.
Lord Chris Patten’s retirement at the age of 80 later this year has sparked an election where for the first time more than 250,000 Oxford graduates and former staff members will be able to vote online.
Overt campaigning for the role is seen as somewhat inappropriate, but Mandelson, former Labour cabinet member, and Hague, former Conservative foreign secretary, have let it be known they are interested.
Theresa May, former Tory prime minister, is also said to be a possible contender. Boris Johnson, another ex-premier, has been linked with the post but is not putting his name forward, according to an ally.
Patten, former Tory chair and Britain’s last governor of Hong Kong, has held the largely ceremonial role since March 2003 and is the latest in a select list of politicians to have been in the post, which dates back to 1224.
Indeed since 1960, only Harold Macmillan, former Tory prime minister, Roy Jenkins, former Labour home secretary and president of the European Commission, and Patten have held the role.
Mandelson, who is stepping down as chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, confirmed to the Financial Times he would be interested in the Oxford role, which is unpaid.
“I do feel passionately about universities and given I studied at Oxford it’s an important place to me,” said Mandelson, who was an EU trade commissioner and former Labour business secretary.
“Obviously I would be interested, but running for election is a fraught business as I know too well, so it’s a decision I would not make in a hurry,” he added.
Oxford academics close to the election process said the best approach for potential candidates was to eschew anything that resembled formal lobbying for the job, to be “interested but not interested” as one put it.
But Mandelson, who read philosophy, politics and economics at St Catherine’s College, has been sounded out for the role by Oxford academics, as has Hague, who read PPE at Magdalen College.
Hague declined to comment but has told friends he is “highly likely” to let his name go forward. He has maintained strong links with the university including taking part in fundraising campaigns.
May, a St Hugh’s College geography graduate, is said by people close to the election to be the only former premier potentially on the list. Oxford has never had a woman chancellor. May did not respond to a request for comment.
Although there is no requirement for a former politician to hold the position, they are often favoured because of their contacts and ability to use their influence at Westminster.
One Oxford academic said: “Peter Mandelson charms the pants off people every time he comes up, while William has them in stitches. They would both be good with donors and visiting potentates.”
Unlike in previous elections, which have required people to vote in person in gowns at the iconic 17th-century Sheldonian Theatre, this time more than 250,000 people will be able to vote online.
The post does not come with a grand residence or a salary, but was described by one Oxford don as: “The ultimate grandee role.” The winner of the contest will serve a ten-year term, presiding over ceremonies, and undertaking advocacy and fundraising work.
Professor William Whyte, a fellow of St John’s College with a special research interest in the university’s history, said: “What Oxford needs is someone who can articulate the interests of the university publicly and speak behind the scenes to policymakers, journalists and others.”
He added: “There’s always been a sense in Oxford that the job of the chancellor is to have the ear of people who might help or hinder the university.”
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