LONDON: Former British foreign secretary and one-time leader of the Conservative Party William Hague was elected the new chancellor of Oxford University on Wednesday, a role that dates back hundreds of years.
Hugh succeeds Chris Patton, the last British governor of Hong Kong and another former senior Conservative politician.
The new Chancellor overcame competition from former Labor Minister Peter Mandelson and three other candidates.
The university said Hague won majority support in the final round of voting for the position and would be the 160th chancellor on record in the university’s history, a role dating back at least 800 years.
More than 24,000 alumni and past and present members of the university’s governing body participated in the election.
“My heart and soul are in Oxford and I will devote myself to the service of the university I love in the coming years,” Hague, 63, said in a statement, thanking those who Endorsed him for a 10-year, unpaid role.
The Chancellor presides over key university events, conducts fundraising and acts as an ambassador at local, national and international events.
Haig graduated from Oxford University in 1982 with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan also applied for the position of chancellor of the prestigious university in September despite being jailed for corruption and other cases of incitement to violence during the May 9 protests last year.
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of 80-year-old Lord Patton, who stepped down after 21 years of service.
However, in October, the former prime minister’s bid was rejected, his adviser said.
Oxford had released a shortlist of 38 candidates who were participating in the first round of voting, which did not include Imran’s name.
The list also included the names of former Prime Ministers of England, Sir Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, who were candidates to become the chancellor of the university.