2003 University of Oxford Chancellor election

none April 2022 2003 University of Oxford Chancellor election presidential no 1987 University of Oxford Chancellor election 1987 2003 03 14 2003 03 15 y Second round 2024 University of Oxford Chancellor election 2024 120px Chris Patten Conservative Party (UK) 4,203 (51.5%) 120px Lord Bingham of Cornhill Independent (politician) 2,483 (30.4%) 3x4.svg Lord Neill of Bladen Crossbencher 1,470 (18.0%) Chancellor Roy Jenkins Chris Patten The 2003 University of Oxford election for the position of Chancellor was called upon the death of the incumbent Chancellor, Roy Jenkins, on 5 January 2003. Electorate The electorate consisted of all members of the University holding the rank of MA. Votes had to be cast in person at Oxford. To stand, a candidate had to be nominated by two electors. It was the first such election to be held in which voters were not required to wear academic dress to vote. It was also the first election to use the instant-runoff vote, after the previous election by first past the post in 1987 saw two Conservative candidates (Lord Blake and Sir Edward Heath) splitting the Conservative vote at 2,500 each, allowing Social Democrat Roy Jenkins to win with 3,500 votes. Candidates Four candidates were nominated: Thomas Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill, 69, senior Law Lord, former Lord Chief Justice and former Master of the Rolls Patrick Neill, Baron Neill of Bladen, 76, former Warden of All Souls, former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, and former Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life Chris Patten, 58, incumbent European Commissioner for External Relations, former Conservative cabinet minister and last Governor of Hong Kong Sandi Toksvig, 44, stand-up comedian and broadcasterhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2833097.stm UK | England | Statements released in chancellor race BBC News 2003-03-08 2011-06-10 The campaign For much of the race, Chris Patten was generally considered to be the front-runner, due to his high profile as the last Governor of Hong Kong.Mount Harry https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1424675/Patten-ahead-in-race-to-be-Oxfords-new-chancellor.html Patten ahead in race to be Oxford's new chancellor Telegraph 2003-03-15 2011-06-10 The bookmaker William Hill offered odds of 7/4 for Mr Patten, 9/4 for Lord Bingham, 11/4 for Lord Neill, and 3/1 for Toksvig.September 2024 medicmedic Sandi Toksvig was the candidate most vociferously opposed to the government's proposed top-up fees, and so received the endorsement of the Oxford University Student Union. However, as most of the union's members were undergraduates, they did not have a vote in the election itself.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2839901.stm UK | Education | Oxford students back Toksvig BBC News 2003-03-11 2011-06-10 Lord Neill also declared himself opposed to top-up fees, but said in his candidates' statement that he preferred not to make this the basis of his campaign. Result Polling ran over two days, on 14 and 15 March 2003. The results went to two rounds before one candidate secured more than 50% of the vote.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/patten-accepts-tall-order-of-leading-oxford-in-hard-times-591492.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/patten-accepts-tall-order-of-leading-oxford-in-hard-times-591492.html 1 May 2022 subscription Patten accepts 'tall order' of leading Oxford in hard times - Education News, Education The Independent 2003-03-18 2011-06-10August 2021 medicmedic CandidateFirst roundSecond roundVotes%Votes±%Chris Patten3,65743.664,20354651.53Lord Bingham of Cornhill2,25126.872,48323230.44Lord Neill of Bladen1,29015.401,47018018.02Sandi Toksvig1,17914.07colspan="3" EliminatedVotes cast8,3771008,156221 See also List of chancellors of the University of Oxford Notes 2003 Category:2003 elections in the United Kingdom Category:2003 in England Category:2000s in Oxford