2011 University of Cambridge Chancellor election

2011 election of ceremonial head of British university April 2022 2011 Cambridge chancellery election presidential United Kingdom Witney constituency no 1976 2025 14–15 October 2011 The Lord Sainsbury of Turville 130x130px Labour Party (UK) 2,893 52.1% Brian Blessed 130x130px Independent (politician) 1,389 25.0% Michael Mansfield 110px Independent (politician) 964 17.3% Abdul Arain Independent (politician) 312 5.6% Chancellor The Duke of Edinburgh The Lord Sainsbury of Turville A rare contested election for the position of chancellor of the University of Cambridge occurred in October 2011, following the retirement of the previous chancellor, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Four candidates contested the election: David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville, who was nominated by the university's Nomination Board and won with 52% of the vote; actor Brian Blessed, who finished second with 25% of the votes cast; barrister Michael Mansfield QC with 17%; and local grocery-owner Abdul Arain with 6%. Although the election was conducted under a single transferable vote, no transfers of votes were needed as Sainsbury secured a majority of first preference votes. Background Prince Philip, consort of Queen Elizabeth II, had been chancellor since December 1976. He announced his retirement in 2010, following over three decades in the post, and formally stepped down at the end of June 2011.John F. Burns, 2011, "Cambridge Vote Ends With Supermarket Mogul on Top and Grocer in Last," The New York Times (online), October 16, 2011, see , accessed 14 March 2015.http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=416223 Need a chancellor? Best knock on Sainsbury's door Baker Simon Times Higher Education Supplement 21 May 2011 31 August 2011 Philip was quoted by The New York Times as saying that "he wanted a life with 'less frantic rushing about' to ceremonial occasions and 'less trying to think of something to say.'" Electorate and voting sourcing of history of contested chancellorships, and further details of earlier contested races no March 2015 The electorate consisted of the Senate: all members of the University holding a higher degree from Cambridge. In effect, this meant that every Cambridge graduate holding a degree other than a bachelor's degree, barring the BD, was able to vote.http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/2010/statute_a-section1.html University Statute A (1) Admin.cam.ac.uk 2010-05-19 2011-11-12 Cambridge offers an upgrade of a BA to an MA six years and one term after undergraduates matriculate, so usually around three and a half years after they first graduate.http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/degrees/ma/ The University Admin.cam.ac.uk 2011-11-12http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/issue/news/cambridge-university-chancellor-nomination-bandwagon-gathers-speed/ Cambridge University Chancellor nomination bandwagon gathers speed Tcs.cam.ac.uk 2011-06-02 2011-06-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20110608153334/http://www.tcs.cam.ac.uk/issue/news/cambridge-university-chancellor-nomination-bandwagon-gathers-speed/ 2011-06-08 dead Additionally, MA degrees are given to some members of staff, to make them a senior member of the university. In addition, all members of the Regent House were also entitled to vote as they are automatically members of the Senate, even if they have no previous Cambridge degree;The Chancellor and Government of the University http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/pdfs/cso_2_statutea_5_12.pdf Statutes of the University of Cambridge 2011-06-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20110607020400/http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/pdfs/cso_2_statutea_5_12.pdf 2011-06-07 dead this included most post-doctoral research staff who were also members of a faculty and also fellows of the colleges who do not hold a Cambridge degree.MEMBERSHIP UNDER STATUTE A, III, 7(E) http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/pdfs/cso_4_ordinance01_105_171.pdf Ordinances of the University of Cambridge 2011-06-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20110607022937/http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/pdfs/cso_4_ordinance01_105_171.pdf 2011-06-07 dead Although not required to wear full academic dress to vote, voters were required to wear the appropriate gown and the university provided gowns free of charge to voters who did not have them.http://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/news/?dp=2011072805 Chancellor of the University of Cambridge election University of Cambridge 28 July 2011 By contrast, the University of Oxford dispensed entirely with such dress requirements for its chancellor election in 2003.March 2015 The election was the first for a Cambridge chancellor to use the single transferable vote system.March 2015 According to the regulations, one of the candidates is nominated by the university's Nomination Board, and anyone else (whether a member of the University or not) can stand as a candidate if nominated by at least fifty senior members of the University holding higher degrees. Beyond the fifty or more nominators, there are no other requirements for candidates.http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/2010/chapter01-section2.html Chapter I : The Chancellor And The Government Of The University - Nomination And Election Of The Chancellor Admin.cam.ac.uk 2011-10-13 In the event of a contested election, a ballot must take place over two days, between 21 and 28 days of full term after the close of nominations. Since the date of the close of nominations (17 June 2011) fell on the last full day of Easter Term, this meant that an election could not be held until a month after the end of the summer vacation, in October 2011. On 18 June, the university authorities set the polling days for Friday 14 October and Saturday 15 October 2011. Votes were cast in person at the Senate House in Cambridge between 10am and 8pm on each day.http://news.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/2011/06/21/election-for-the-office-of-chancellor/ Office of Chancellor: Appointment of Voting Days Admin.cam.ac.uk 2011-05-26 2011-06-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20131214013720/http://news.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/2011/06/21/election-for-the-office-of-chancellor/ 2013-12-14 dead Candidates and campaign In December 2010, aware that Prince Philip intended to retire at the end of that academic year, the university convened a Nomination Board, composed of the University Council, plus sixteen members appointed by the University Senate. On 20 May 2011, the Nomination Board put forward Sainsbury as their candidate. As per statutory procedure, if nobody had challenged him, he would then have been deemed elected unopposed on 1 July 2011, without the need for a ballot.http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2011051901 Chancellorship of the University Admin.cam.ac.uk 2011-05-20 2011-06-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20110626082048/http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2011051901 2011-06-26 dead On 27 May, local grocery-owner Abdul Arain announced that he was standing against Sainsbury, in opposition to an application to build a Sainsbury's Local in Cambridge's Mill Road district, which he claimed would harm the character of the area.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Trader-hopes-to-battle-Lord-Sainsbury-for-chancellor-27052011.htm Trader hopes to battle Lord Sainsbury for chancellor Cambridge Evening News 2011-06-10 He argued that, "once again, the university is called upon to be the vanguard of local communities",Kirsty Gray http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/3625 Mill Road shopkeeper to take on Lord Sainsbury for Chancellorship Varsity.co.uk 2011-05-29 2011-06-10 later adding, "Cambridge should be an institution that nurtures the community as well as world-renowned educational values", and that, "I'm standing for the whole Cambridge community."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-13640487 Brian Blessed bids to be Cambridge chancellor Bbc.co.uk 2011-06-03 2011-06-10 Speaking to The Grocer, Arain commented, "I’m not against Lord Sainsbury personally but the university should defend the local community. Cambridge is becoming a clone town."http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=218506 https://archive.today/20120913033356/http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=218506 dead 2012-09-13 Cambridge indie owner battles Lord Sainsbury for university honour Thegrocer.co.uk 2011-06-10 He also compared his "outsider" status to that of Barack Obama.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Education-and-Training/Universities/Facebook-group-calls-for-Blessed-to-be-Chancellor-31052011.htm Blessed to be Chancellor Cambridge News 2011-05-31 2011-06-10 Despite Arain's early declaration to stand, it took him a while to accumulate the 50 nominations necessary, stating on 3 June that he had 40 signatures, and expected to have another 10 by the close of nominations. On 6 June, he confirmed that he now had 50 nominators.http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/grocery_store_owner_passes_50_backers_to_run_cambridge_university_chancellor_race_1_913391 Grocery store owner passes 50 backers to run Cambridge University chancellor race - News Cambridge First 2011-06-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20110911153104/http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/grocery_store_owner_passes_50_backers_to_run_cambridge_university_chancellor_race_1_913391 2011-09-11 dead Prior to Arain's campaign announcement, it was generally assumed that Lord Sainsbury's candidature would be unopposed, and an initial press announcement from the university seemed to confirm that preparations were underway to install Sainsbury unopposed. No election has been opposed since 1950, where one candidate withdrew before the poll; the last election actively contested at a poll was in 1847. On 31 May, it was announced that over the preceding Bank Holiday weekend, a Facebook campaign by Cambridge graduates to draft veteran Shakespearean actor Brian Blessed as a candidate had resulted in the necessary 50 signatures being generated.Jess Holland http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/3629 Actor Brian Blessed becomes third potential contender for Chancellorship Varsity.co.uk 2011-05-31 2011-06-10 Blessed was then approached, and released a statement on 2 June that he was "absolutely staggered" by the nomination, but that he was "delighted to accept", stating in his acceptance letter, "For me, Cambridge has always been the centre of the earth, there is a brightness and light there that rivals that on Mount Everest. The University buildings are architecturally beautiful, the whole setting is wonderful and enchants the soul. I am thrilled to be asked and wish you every success with the campaign."Jess Holland http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/3637 Blessed accepts nomination for Chancellorship Varsity.co.uk 2011-06-04 2011-06-10https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8554461/Brian-Blessed-to-run-for-Cambridge-University-chancellor.html Brian Blessed to run for Cambridge University chancellor Telegraph 2011-06-03 2011-06-10 Londonhttp://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Brian-is-blessed-with-50-backers-02062011.htm Brian is blessed with 50 backers Cambridge News 2011-06-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20110610125725/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Brian-is-blessed-with-50-backers-02062011.htm 2011-06-10 dead Blessed later added, "To me, being the next Chancellor of Cambridge University would be a miracle, because I’m the son of a coal miner", and he pledged to be an active Chancellor, remarking, "I’d like to inspire them to do expeditions all over the world. I would love to join them in expeditions, and promote adventure, adventure, adventure: I think the key to the new millennium is adventure. And it is that that I want to urge; and the university has so many projects, so many enterprises, so many departments, it makes my hair stand on end at the prospect of working with them."http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Brian-Blessed-Cambridge-University-Chancellors-job-would-be-a-miracle-20062011.htm Brian Blessed: 'Cambridge University Chancellor's job would be a miracle' Cambridge News 2011-06-20 A poll in The Tab amongst their student readers (few of whom could vote) found Blessed to be the overwhelming favourite amongst students, polling 63.2%, compared to 13.5% for none of the candidates, 10% for Abdul Arain, and 5.7% for Lord Sainsbury, with 7.7% voting "I don't care."http://cambridgetab.co.uk/news/booming-blessed-to-bloom-as-chancellor Update: Booming Blessed To Bloom As Chancellor? « The Tab – www.cambridgetab.co.uk Cambridgetab.co.uk 2011-06-02 2011-06-19 25 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221058/http://cambridgetab.co.uk/news/booming-blessed-to-bloom-as-chancellor dead On 2 June, Cambridge Classics Professor and Times columnist Mary Beard noted that despite "no connection" over Sainsbury's £82 million in donations to Cambridge University, she would "probably" vote for him, branding Arain a "publicity seeker", and describing Blessed's popularity with younger voters and students as "puzzling."Beard Mary http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2011/06/cambridge-university-chancellor-the-race-the-runners-and-riders.html A Don's Life by Mary Beard - Times Online - WBLG: Cambridge University Chancellor: the race, the runners and riders Timesonline.typepad.com 2011-06-02 2011-06-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20110606140640/http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2011/06/cambridge-university-chancellor-the-race-the-runners-and-riders.html 2011-06-06 dead On 6 June, The Independent commented that the election had been expected to be a "David and Goliath battle between Lord Sainsbury and local shopkeeper Abdul Arain. But this unlikely face-off could be disrupted by the unexpected participation" of Blessed.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/diary/diary-blessed-in-with-a-shout-2293489.html Diary: Blessed in with a shout The Independent 2011-06-06 2011-06-10 London 2011-06-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20110612051405/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/diary/diary-blessed-in-with-a-shout-2293489.html dead On 14 June, it was reported that radical socialist barrister Michael Mansfield had been nominated by several Cambridge academics, with the lawyer describing his candidature as, "a fine opportunity to defend the principles of Higher Education and critical thinking in particular, which have been steadily eroded by successive governments wedded to market forces." In their supporting letter, his nominators contrasted his stance on several issues with that of Lord Sainsbury, writing that, "even if Mr Mansfield does not win this election, the campaign in his support will be able to articulate very clearly the fundamental opposition between what these two men stand for."http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/3659 Michael Mansfield QC to enter fight to be Chancellor Varsityhttp://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Top-barrister-joins-race-to-be-Cambridge-University-Chancellor-15062011.htm Top barrister joins race to be Cambridge University Chancellor Cambridge Evening News One of Mansfield's nominators elaborated to the Law Gazette on why the barrister was standing: "Is it too rude to call (Lord Sainsbury) a plutocrat? He has inherited wealth, and represents some of the capitalist focus that threatens the ideas on which a university is founded. We’d like to see someone who is prepared to question the establishment."http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/obiter/supermarket-sweep Supermarket Sweep Law Gazette 2011-10-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20111011052823/http://lawgazette.co.uk/obiter/supermarket-sweep 2011-10-11 dead Nominations closed on 17 June, when a university spokesman confirmed that all four candidates had secured the level of support needed to get on to the ballot paper. Lord Sainsbury made his first public statement on the election since being nominated, stating, "I have great admiration and affection for the university, built up over all the years since I was an undergraduate at King's, studying history and then psychology. I also have a life-long interest in education. I have no personal agenda, and if elected, my sole aim would be to help the university in any way that I can."https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/17/abdul-arain-shopkeeper-cambridge-university-chancellor Cambridge university chancellor race gets tasty as grocer joins in The Guardian London Caroline Davies 17 June 2011 BBC Breakfast News profiled the election on 5 July, identifying Brian Blessed as "the runaway favourite" for the post.BBC Breakfast News, 5 July 2011, broadcast c.9:10am BST On 24 July, Brian Blessed launched his official campaign website.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Brian-Blessed-for-Chancellor-bid-gets-website-25072011.htm 'Brian Blessed for Chancellor' bid gets website Cambridge Evening News On 22 August, Blessed drew press attention as he released his first campaign video, in which Blessed described his humble origins and argued that the next Chancellor "must sweat blood to help people who are underprivileged", and offered to help in widening access to Cambridge, "with humour, and drive and soul and appreciation."http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Video-Brian-Blessed-explains-Cambridge-University-Chancellor-bid-22082011.htm Brian Blessed explains Cambridge University Chancellor bid Cambridge Evening News On 14 September, the Cambridge Union Society announced that they had secured the agreement of all four candidates for each to give their own separate hustings in the week before the election, with four Q&A sessions scheduled for between 10 and 12 October. None of the candidates would be attending hustings opposite their rival candidates.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Education-and-Training/Universities/Full-house-of-candidates-for-union-debates-14092011.htm Full house of candidates for union debates Cambridge Evening News On 20 September, Lord Sainsbury launched his official campaign website.http://www.davidsainsbury.org.uk/ David Sainsbury campaign website On 23 September, it was announced in the local press that Blessed intended to spend the afternoon of one of the election days holding court in a Cambridge pub, thanking his supporters as they return from voting.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Education-and-Training/Universities/Brian-Blessed-pub-venue-for-University-vote-23092011.htm Brian Blessed in city pub for University vote Cambridge Evening News Blessed subsequently received endorsements from Cambridge alumni Stephen Fry and Sir Derek Jacobi.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Education-and-Training/Universities/Jacobi-joins-Blessed-bid-for-top-post-05102011.htm Sir Derek Jacobi backs Brian Blessed bid for Cambridge University Chancellor Cambridge Evening News On 3 October, Lord Sainsbury gave an election interview with the Cambridge Evening News, in which he said "I’m not quite certain why any of the other three" candidates were standing against him, and he described his links to Cambridge as an undergraduate at King's between 1959 and 1963, his strong record in promoting British universities as a government minister, and his support for the introduction of student fees in the 1990s.http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Education-and-Training/News/University-is-part-of-me-thats-my-edge-03102011.htm 'University is part of me - that's my edge' Cambridge Evening News On 6 October, Abdul Arain revealed that he had the backing of the Cambridge's Mill Road Society, of which he is a former Chairman. He also unveiled several posters of himself, some YouTube videos in which he set out his case for standing, based on "representing a world-class university which has deep roots in its local community."http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Mission-to-unite-town-and-gown-06102011.htm Mission to unite town and gown Cambridge Evening News Subsequently, Cambridge Student paper The Tab commented, "This leaves radical lawyer Michael Mansfield the quietest contender so far", with Mansfield having made no public statement on the election since his letter accepting nomination four months earlier.http://cambridgetab.co.uk/news/jacobi-and-fry-join-the-blessed-bandwagon Jacobi and Fry Join the Blessed bandwagon The Tab On 7 October, IT analysts speculated "a failure by Cambridge University administrators to understand online campaign techniques may result in the defeat of their preferred candidate for the next university chancellor - Lord Sainsbury of Turville", and predicted a possible victory for Blessed. Cambridge alumnus Anthony Zacharzewski, a democracy analyst and founder of the Democratic Society, argued that the University's failure to engage with online campaigning and to adequately publicise the candidates' web presences, "plays into the hands of the Blessed vote", since his supporters had the best-organised online presence. The same analysts also predicted "gridlock in the city centre" on the election days.http://www.ukauthority.com/Headlines/tabid/36/NewsArticle/tabid/64/Default.aspx?id=3356 Cambridge dons learn a lesson in virtual democracy UKauthorITy - the leading independent published of UK public sector technology news Neither prediction was borne out by events. Results details regarding post-election analysis, and commentary from all candidates and supporters no March 2015 The results were announced just after mid-day on Sunday 16 October.Samantha Sharman, 2011, "Sainsbury wins Chancellor election," Varsity (online), October 16, 2011, see , accessed 14 March 2015. Lord Sainsbury of Turville, K2,89352.1Mr Brian Blessed1,38925.0Michael Mansfield QC96417.3Mr Abdul Arain3125.6 Analysis of the election noted low turnout, with 2.5% of those eligible casting votes. On hearing of his success, Lord Sainsbury said: I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as the next Chancellor of Cambridge University, and would like to thank all those who have supported me, and the other candidates who have made this such a friendly election. I am particularly pleased that the election did not turn into a battle between the arts and humanities and science, or between political parties, and I look forward to championing the University in its entirety at home and abroad in the years ahead.Maev Kennedy, 2011, "Lord Sainsbury beats grocer to become Cambridge University chancellor," The Guardian (online), October 16, 2011, see , accessed 14 March 2015. External links Official information on election arrangements Abdul Arain for Chancellor Facebook page Brian Blessed for Chancellor - official campaign website Election statement from Michael Mansfield QC David Sainsbury official site See also 2025 University of Cambridge Chancellor election List of chancellors of the University of Cambridge Notes 30em 2011 University of Cambridge Chancellor election University of Cambridge Chancellor election University of Cambridge Chancellor election Category:Non-partisan elections