Lawyer hopes to become first black woman Chancellor at Oxford Uni

Down through the years, the phrase 'male, pale and stale' might have been a fair enough description.

But Oxford University's longlist of candidates for its next Chancellor is quite a different story - with 11 women making the cut.

The university yesterday unveiled its diverse range of bidders for the role, which includes one who hopes to be the first black female in the role.

Businesswoman and lawyer Margaret Casely-Hayford said: 'Oxford has not yet appointed a female or Chancellor of colour and that should change starting now.'

Another frontrunner is Lady Elish Angiolini, a prominent lawyer and former Lord Advocate for Scotland, who is Principal of Oxford's St Hugh's College. 

She comes from a working-class background and is currently the chair of the inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard.

Meanwhile, there is also Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, who was criticised earlier this week over previously making students take an unconscious bias course at Somerville College, where she is Principal.

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Imran Khan is 'blocked' from Oxford University chancellorship race after applying from prison

Oxford invited candidates to apply online for the first time this year, and abolished the rule requiring 50 supporting signatures from graduates.

Alumni will be able to vote online, with the top five candidates announced next month, before a second round of voting.

The race was sparked by Lord Patten of Barnes retiring from his position, which is ceremonial but involves giving advice to the Vice Chancellor.

Throughout Oxford's history, the role has only ever been held by white men - and over the last 100 years these have all been politicians, mostly Conservative.

However, the new style of applying and voting has opened up the race to a much more diverse range of candidates.

Among the 38 named are also Alastair Bruce, who calls himself the 'first openly gay general in the British Army' and is the governor of Edinburgh Castle.

There is also Cambridge University Conservative Association committee member Francisc Vladovici-Poplauschi, whose pitch is: 'Why not pick a random?'

Another hopeful said he should get voted in because he 'listens to Brideshead Revisited on tape'.

The list also contained former Tory leader Lord Hague, former Labour spin doctor Lord Mandelson, former universities minister Lord Willets and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, all of whom have already been announced.

Lord Hague, who has been seen as the 'free speech' candidate, said: 'Violence and prejudice should be countered through the rigour of reason, not the comfort blanket of cancellation.

'Oxford minds should be ready for the great debating chamber of the world, not the echo chambers of the like-minded.'

Imran Khan, the ex-cricketer and former prime minister of Pakistan, is not on the list despite applying - it is thought he was barred because of being imprisoned on charges of corruption. 

His supporters have now written to the university asking with his name was omitted.

Describing the decision as 'extremely disappointing', Mr Khan's aide Sayed Zulfi Bukhai said they had received legal opinions indicated that he should be ;allowed to contest'.

He added: 'Without a doubt, it is a grey area so the interpretation lies upon every KC or barrister you go to. 

'Because it's the first time for everything — the first time for an online election, the first time that someone's applying from prison, there isn't an affirmative law on this and the interpretation that Oxford must have taken was obviously a negative one.

'We have top lawyers around the world, including the ones representing Imran Khan, that say that there is no reason why he should not be able to stand.'