Lord Hague has emerged as the winner of the final round of voting for Chancellor of the University of Oxford, in a roster of five strong candidates.
He achieved his first place spot with 12,609 votes, just beating into second place Lady Elish Angiolini, who won 11,006 votes by the last round.
The election for Chancellor of the University of Oxford is perhaps not as great as the general election, or the Conservative leadership contest, but it still matters. Its place is historic but also increasingly important because of student matters.
The nature of free speech debates is obvious to those who watch politics unfold. Although there’s potential for good in student life, on the other hand there’s a lot of acrimony. An election in a University therefore is a chance for change.
Together, the last five candidates have a broad range of experience but offer little in terms of an answer. A number have been controversial figures before, in both Labour and Conservative camps, and would find it difficult to make headway.
Furthermore, two candidates are principals of colleges at Oxford, and so may be seen as too institutionalised. The disagreements can be volatile and sitting authority figures aren’t well liked anyway. It may not prove constructive at all.
Its outcome will help determine the way forward for one of England’s greatest academic centres of excellence, but ahead is also a treacherous path as people bicker. It may be worth seeking after a peacemaker as well as pacesetter.