William Hague Elected Chancellor of Oxford University

My heart and soul are in Oxford, and I will dedicate myself to serving the university I love, Hague says.

William Hague, the former British foreign minister and ex-leader of the Conservative Party, has assumed the role of chancellor at the University of Oxford, a position steeped in centuries of history and prestige.

Hague succeeds Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong and a senior Conservative politician, who served as chancellor for 21 years.

In a competitive election, Hague emerged victorious over former Labour minister Peter Mandelson and three other candidates.

The university announced that Hague secured a majority in the final voting round, becoming the 160th recorded chancellor in Oxford’s history—a role that dates back over 800 years. Over 24,000 alumni, current and former members of the university’s governing body, participated in the election.

Expressing his gratitude, Hague, 63, said: “My heart and soul are in Oxford, and I will dedicate myself in the coming years to serving the university I love.”

The role, which is unpaid and spans a decade, involves presiding over key ceremonies, leading fundraising efforts, and representing Oxford at major events worldwide.

Hague graduated from Oxford in 1982 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE).

The vacancy arose following the resignation of 80-year-old Lord Patten, who stepped down earlier this year.

Notably, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan had expressed interest in the position, even while incarcerated due to corruption charges and allegations linked to last year’s May 9 protests.

However, Khan’s candidacy was rejected in October, according to his adviser.

Oxford’s shortlist for the first round of voting included 38 candidates but did not feature Khan.

Prominent figures like former UK prime ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson were among the contenders vying for the historic role.