Voting Opens Today in Woke Race for Next Cambridge Chancellor – Guido Fawkes

Voting Opens Today in Woke Race for Next Cambridge Chancellor

mdi-fullscreen

Online voting has opened today to elect the next Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The glamorous title has attracted a string of high-profile candidates, with no shortage of competing agendas and egos – and plenty of wokeism. Guido has already covered serial loser Gina Miller’s “historic” candidacy…

Here are some of the other big-name runners and riders to keep an eye on:

• Lord Browne of Madingley – The former BP CEO and crossbench peer has longstanding ties to the university, but his candidacy has drawn criticism for his so-called “links” to fossil fuels. Didn’t hear the university complaining when it was spending oil and gas money…
• Mohamed El-Erian – The lefty luvvies favourite, backed by the likes of Gordon Brown, Emily Maitlis and Stephen Fry. El-Erian, chair of Gramercy Funds Management, and a regular on financial news channels, says he is a climate champion. Gramercy currently funds Pogust Goodhead’s class action against BHP and also quietly backs a Venezuelan oil project and investments in mining in Peru. Rumours are El-Erian is reportedly planning to relocate to the US. A climate-friendly commute…
• Sandi Toksvig – Broadcaster, comedian and campaigner, Toksvig brings celebrity name recognition, though her platform remains broad and deliberately uncontroversial. She was Cambridge’s first “Q+ Fellow”, appointed on grounds of her sexuality by the Department of Sociology.
• Tony Booth – A sandal-wearing academic and Extinction Rebellion supporter, Booth describes himself as the “ethical candidate” and has been vocal in opposing what he sees as corporate influence over the university. He’s taken aim at both Browne and El-Erian for their alleged connections to fossil fuels…
• Lord Smith – Peer who previously served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport under Blair. Subsequently chairman of the Environment Agency. Notably launched his candidacy for the role with an attack on President Trump. Former Labour MP turned prolific quangocrat…

Voting closes on 18 July, with the winner announced shortly after. Though the position itself carries little direct authority, the race signals the direction Cambridge – the UK’s best university – is heading. May the least woke win…