As reported first in the Times Higher Education , a letter is circulating in Cambridge University suggesting that academics use their single transferable vote judiciously to prevent the election of Lord Browne of Madingley as the new Chancellor.
There is now also press coverage of this campaign in The Times and in Varsity.
The text of the open letter is here. As reported in The Times, one of the principal organisers is Jason Scott-Warren, Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture.
The letter argues that Lord Browne is a controversial figure for two key reasons. First, he chaired the 2010 committee that championed market-driven university funding and high student fees — a move that sparked widespread outrage and remains deeply contentious today. His name is still synonymous with the policy many blame for pushing higher education to the brink. Second, his long career as CEO of BP and ties to the fossil fuel industry sit uneasily with a university community increasingly vocal about the climate crisis. Appointing him Chancellor now would strike many as tone-deaf, if not outright provocative.
The 21 Group has already expressed our reservations about the suitability of Lord Browne here and here.
1 Comment
SPARTACUS · 2 July 2025 at 23:32
Anyone but Lord BP! His establishment supporters include many that have central roles in a gigantic scandal ongoing in cancer research in Cambridge. Bullies, dictators, liars, manipulators are all routing for the oil man. Biomedical research in Cambridge will be doomed.