2025 University of Cambridge Chancellor election
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The 2025 University of Cambridge election for the position of Chancellor became necessary upon the resignation of the incumbent, David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville.[1][2]
Nominations for the role closed on 2 May 2025.[3] The term for the new Chancellor will be ten years; previous occupants of the role were appointed for life.[4] Previous holders of the role include Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; former Prime Ministers Stanley Baldwin, Arthur Balfour and Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton; and Nobel Laureates Edgar Adrian, 1st Baron Adrian and John Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh.[5]
Electorate and voting
The 2011 election for Chancellorship was the first time the post had been contested since 1950, and the first actively fought contest since 1847.
The electorate consists of the Senate: all members of the University holding a higher degree from Cambridge. In effect, every Cambridge graduate holding a degree other than a bachelor's degree (save the BD) has a vote.[6] In addition, all members of the Regent House are also entitled to vote as they are automatically members of the Senate, even if they have no previous Cambridge degree;[7] this includes most post-doctoral research staff who are also members of a faculty, and fellows of the colleges who do not hold a Cambridge degree.[8]
Voting will take place in person at the Senate House in Cambridge on Saturday 12th and Wednesday 16th July between 10:00 and 17:00, and online between Wednesday 9th and Friday 18th July.[9] Votes will be counted using the Single Transferable Vote system, with voters ranking as many of the candidates as they choose.[10]
Candidates
All candidates required 50 nominations by 2 May. Ten confirmed candidates were annouced by the University on 28 May, listed below in alphabetical order:[11][12][13]
- Ayham Ammora — business consultant
- Ali Azeem — former Treasury adviser and Conservative parliamentary candidate
- Tony Booth — academic, Extinction Rebellion activist
- John Browne, Baron Browne of Madingley — former CEO of BP, crossbench peer
- Mohamed El-Erian — former CEO of PIMCO, President of Queens' College, Cambridge
- Mark Mann — research consultant
- Gina Miller — businesswoman, anti-Brexit campaigner
- Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury — former Culture Secretary, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge
- Sandi Toksvig — broadcaster and comedian; candidate in 2003 Oxford Chancellor election
- Neil Wyn Evans — Cambridge Professor of astrophysics
In the period after nominations had formally opened, there was press speculation that a number of candidates could run, including Michael Portillo, James O'Shaughnessy, Baron O'Shaughnessy and broadcaster Emily Maitlis;[14] but they all declined to run, with Maitlis instead publicly backing Mohamed El-Erian.[15]
The Times Higher Education reported that there was no obvious front-runner in the contest, and noted that a number of Cambridge academics had expressed concerns about a television personality such as Sandi Toksvig taking the role previously held by Prime Ministers and Nobel Laureates. It also reported that the other woman in the field – Gina Miller – has been tipped by some to win, partly on account of the goodwill among largely Remain-supporting Cambridge alumni over her high-profile campaign in 2019 to prevent Brexit.[16]
See also
References
- ^ "Cambridge Chancellor to resign". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ "The Election for the new Chancellor of the University of Cambridge". newn.cam.ac.uk. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ "Election of the next Chancellor | University of Cambridge". www.cam.ac.uk. 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ "Statutes approved". Cambridge University Reporter. 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
- ^ "Former Chancellors | University of Cambridge". www.cam.ac.uk. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ "University Statute A (1)". Admin.cam.ac.uk. 2010-05-19. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
- ^ "The Chancellor and Government of the University" (PDF). Statutes of the University of Cambridge. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ "MEMBERSHIP UNDER STATUTE A, III, 7(E)" (PDF). Ordinances of the University of Cambridge. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ "How to vote | University of Cambridge". www.cam.ac.uk. 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ^ "The voting process | University of Cambridge". www.cam.ac.uk. 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
- ^ "The candidates | University of Cambridge". www.cam.ac.uk. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "Ten candidates make Cambridge chancellor election shortlist". Times Higher Education (THE). 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ Lambert, Georgia (2025-05-28). "Cambridge University reveals chancellor contender shortlist". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
- ^ "Does it matter who the next Cambridge chancellor is?". Times Higher Education (THE). 2025-04-25. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ Reporter, Georgia Lambert, Education (2025-04-23). "Cambridge University needs global appeal, says would-be chancellor". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Ten candidates make Cambridge chancellor election shortlist". Times Higher Education (THE). 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-06-20.