1987 University of Oxford Chancellor election

none March 2020 presidential no 1960 University of Oxford Chancellor election 1960 14 March 1987 2003 University of Oxford Chancellor election 2003 Roy Jenkins 1977 (cropped).jpg Roy Jenkins Social Democratic Party (UK) 3,249 39.1% 100px Lord Blake Conservative Party (UK) 2,674 32.2% Golda Meir and Edward Heath cropped (cropped).jpg Edward Heath Conservative Party (UK) 2,348 28.3% 100px Mark Payne Independent (politician) 38 0.5% Chancellor Harold Macmillan Roy Jenkins The 1987 University of Oxford election for the position of Chancellor was called upon the death of the incumbent Chancellor, Harold Macmillan, on 29 December 1986. Electorate The electorate consisted of all members of the University holding the rank of MA. Votes had to be cast in person at Oxford in academic dress. The election was by first past the post. To stand a candidate had to be nominated by two electors. Potential candidates The forthcoming election generated much interest, and several names were raised in the press as potential candidates, including:Finding a dark blue horse The Guardian 10 January 1987 Former Labour leaders Lord Wilson of Rievaulx (1916–1995) (Prime Minister 1964–1970 and 1974–1976) and James Callaghan (1912–2005) (Prime Minister 1976–1979) Former Conservative leaders Lord Home of the Hirsel (1902–1995) (Prime Minister 1963–1964) and Edward Heath MP (1916–2005) (Prime Minister 1970–1974), and the incumbent leader Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) (Prime Minister 1979–1990) Two other prominent Conservative politicians: former Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington (1919–2018) (held that position 1979–1982; a Cabinet minister in every Conservative government from 1956 until 1982), and Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone (Lord Chancellor 1970–1974 and 1979–1987; a former Conservative Cabinet minister since 1957) Social Democratic Party politicians Roy Jenkins (1920–2003) (Home Secretary 1965–1967 and 1974–1976; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1967–1970, Leader of the Social Democrats 1981–1983) and Shirley Williams (1930–2021) (Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection 1974–1976; Paymaster-General & Secretary of State for Education and Science 1976–1979) who had both broken away from Labour in 1981 due to its leftward drift. All of the above had been educated at Oxford, apart from Lords Callaghan and Carrington. A notable feature of the election was the decision of the university establishment not to agree a preferred candidate in advance, thus increasing the possibility of a long list of candidates being nominated.The buzz begins on an Oxford successor The Guardian 21 January 1987 Candidates nominated Eventually four candidates were nominated: Lord Blake, a graduate from Magdalen College, student of Christ Church, Provost of Queen's College, and prominent historian of the Conservative Party Sir Edward Heath, a graduate from Balliol College and former Conservative Prime Minister Roy Jenkins, also a graduate from Balliol, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, former President of the European Commission and former leader of the Social Democratic Party Mark Payne, a general practitioner from Birmingham Course of the election The election attracted huge levels of publicity, at times likened to a parliamentary by-election.Oxford's scholarly voters catch by-election fever The Times 8 March 1987 Much of the attention focused upon the Jenkins and Heath campaigns, whilst Blake was seen as a non-political candidate. Payne was regarded as an outsider. Much attention was focused on the issue of government funding for universities, with Oxford facing the effects of cuts in its funding, leading to several chairs being left unfilled.What a swell party this is ..And, by the way, we also elected a chancellor – The triumph of Roy Jenkins The Times 15 March 1987 The requirement for those voting to do so in academic dress resulted in the local tailor selling out. One tactic of the supporters of Jenkins was to lend gowns to voters lacking them. Result Polling ran until 14 March 1987. The results were as follows:Jenkins wins the Oxford vote The Times 15 March 1987 CandidateVotes% Roy Jenkins 3,249 39.1 Lord Blake 2,674 32.2 Sir Edward Heath 2,348 28.3 Mark Payne 38 0.5Turnout 8,309 See also List of chancellors of the University of Oxford Notes collapsed 1987 Oxford Chancellor election Oxford Chancellor election Category:20th century in Oxford Oxford Chancellor election