Scottish politicians brutally exposed what has been happening at Dundee University.
You can see the carnage here, as former Vice Chancellor Iain Gillespie appeared before the Select Committee at Holyrood.
It’s like watching a tubby, slow-moving sloth trapped in a cage with a pack of wolverines.
Under Gillespie’s leadership, Dundee plunged into a £35 million deficit, shedding approximately 300 jobs, facing possible campus closures — while he repeatedly assured everyone it was all sunshine and surpluses.
Committee convener Douglas Ross, quoting the Pamela Gillies report, blasted Gillespie for “hubris, overbearing behaviour, dangerous over-confidence and arrogance”. Ross then flatly called him a “coward”— accusing him of creating the crisis and walking away with over £150,000 in severance.
Willie Rennie pressed Gillespie on whether any staff had previously raised concerns about his bullying behaviour. Initially, Gillespie claimed no recollection—but under Rennie’s scrutiny, he admitted a complaint had been filed during his time at the Natural Environment Research Council, referencing the staff member’s experience:
I went to another university completely broken… I lost a lot, including my final salary pension.” [Victim of Gillespie]
Rennie then remarked pointedly: “The fact you initially denied this tells us a lot about you.” Further revelations of his time as Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Leicester revealed a pattern of hubristic behaviour, arrogance, bullying and poor management style.
Asked whether he was corrupt or incompetent, Gillespie told MSPs in a moment of shocking candour,
“I’m certainly not corrupt, so I have to choose incompetent.” [Prof Iain Gillespie]
This will be one of the defining quotes of the Great University Scandal of 2025 and 2026
Prof Iain Gillespie repeatedly claimed ignorance—first on a breached banking covenant (“I only found out in the Gillies report”), then on expense policy violations (£87,000 flagged)—and brushed off criticism by blaming culture and delegation.
The questioning by MSPs was repeatedly fact-driven, confrontational and aimed squarely at securing tangible accountability—not just apologies. A text-book example of holding the powerful to account. A credit to Scottish democracy.
Those of us who have watched the moral decline of all our universities over the last decade will not be at all surprised at the revelations of the poor behaviour at the top of Dundee University. It is commonplace in the higher echelons of all UK Universities.
Respect, Holyrood. First Peter Mathieson (VC of Edinburgh) skewered and now Iain Gillespie eviscerated. It’s no more than they deserved.
Over to you at the sleepy Senedd Cymru. And Westminster.
5 Comments
SC · 29 June 2025 at 07:32
“There Is No Such Thing as Society.”
“Crisis? What Crisis?”
“There’s No Money Left.”
“A Good Day to Bury Bad News.”
Quotes (or misquotes) that stuck and wrecked reputations.
Now, universities are crumbling under financial strain. Staff are shown the door while Vice Chancellors polish their salaries.
One line sums it all up, and it should be hung around the neck of every senior university leader like a dead albatross:
“I’m not corrupt—just incompetent.”
Let’s make it stick
Bagehot · 29 June 2025 at 12:40
The sooner this begins at Westminster the better.
VCs receive taxpayer money for their lavishes.
They must be held accountable by the elected representatives of the British people.
21percent.org · 29 June 2025 at 16:28
In our view, this needs to happen urgently at the Senedd
The Welsh universities are in real danger
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/education/real-danger-university-wales-could-31932376
There needs to be a really tough questioning of Wendy Larner (Cardiff — she’s cutting jobs in a chaotic manner), Edmund Burke (Bangor — he’s just been awarded a pay rise for cutting jobs), Jon Timmis (Aberystwyth) and Elwen Evans (UWTSD — she’s shut the Lampeter campus)
Neil Gellatly · 29 June 2025 at 14:56
Remember when university sector used to focus on education and research?
Now about business ££s and grossly overpaid and lavish treatment of arrogant leaders.
Anonymous · 30 June 2025 at 15:47
Indeed, this is an incredible turn of events. In a strange sort of way I actually appreciate the fact that he came clean in this very direct way. Perhaps other VCs and HR Directors will do the same. This would be best, for all concerned.
As already noted by others, I hope this momentum carries into other areas of the UK.
It should also be noted though that a senior member of management at Dundee tried to intervene and asked “uncomfortable” questions, but was “asked to leave” as a result:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyn4pxjwrvo
She also noted in her statement that she felt that she was being “punished for speaking out”.
This is an all-to-familiar story of course, although for the lower ranks it usually results in an a period of brutal abuse then unfair dismissal through corrupt means.