Lord William Hague Elected as Next Chancellor of Oxford University

ISLAMABAD:Lord William Hague, the former leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, has been elected as the next Chancellor of Oxford University, defeating several high-profile candidates, including Lady Angela Eagle and Labour peer Lord Peter Mandelson.

Oxford University announced the results, confirming that Lord Hague will take office as Chancellor in the new year and serve a tenure of 10 years. Hague, who led the Conservative Party from 1997 to 2001 and served as the UK’s Foreign Secretary from 2010 to 2014, will officially begin his duties at the start of 2024.

In a statement after his election, Lord Hague described the role as the greatest honor of his life. “I salute the other candidates, especially for their commitment to the future of Oxford University,” he said. He emphasized that the developments at Oxford in the coming decade will be crucial for the success of the United Kingdom. “I am proud to take the reins of the university where I studied, and I look forward to supporting its future,” he added.

For the first time in its history, Oxford University staff and alumni were able to vote online for the Chancellor, a role that has existed for over 800 years at the institution. The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university, overseeing key events and presiding over the selection of the Vice-Chancellor.

Interestingly, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was also in the running for the position. However, his candidacy was disqualified after the university administration removed his name from the list of nominees, citing ongoing legal cases against him in Pakistan during the scrutiny process.

Lord Hague’s election marks a significant milestone for Oxford, as it continues to modernize and engage its global community of alumni and staff.