Studio publicity still of Grace Kelly for the film Rear Window (1954)
The Grace has now secured more than the required 50 signatures to proceed to a vote of Regent House.
The petition will remain open for additional signatures until 5pm on 17 September 2026, and we encourage all colleagues who are members of Regent House to consider adding their support.
The Grace was motivated primarily by difficulties experienced by staff in the MRC Epidemiology Unit and within University Information Services (UIS), alongside longstanding concerns about the handling of Grievances. We see the Grace as a constructive opportunity to address these issues and improve current practices. The 21 Group also recognises the considerable pressures faced by junior HR staff in recent years and believes they stand to benefit from the proposed changes.
Epidemiology is the first MRC Unit to be reorganised following funding changes. Mitochondrial Biology, Toxicology, Metabolic Diseases and Biostatistics are to follow. This has already resulted in dozens of redundancies in Epidemiology, with ~100 likely to be put at risk in the other units. Likewise, UIS staff are being placed at risk of job losses, seemingly without proper procedures being followed
We would be grateful if colleagues could continue to raise awareness of the Grace, as we believe it merits the widest possible support in the University.
In separate news, Professor Kamal Munir has announced that he will step down as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Community and Engagement in September. The announcement, along with the Vice-Chancellor’s tribute, is available online here.
We wish Professor Munir every success in his future teaching and research.
We believe this transition presents an opportunity for a reset. The next Pro-Vice-Chancellor should be a reform-minded leader, prepared to address areas of the University that are not functioning as effectively as they should, including aspects of the HR division.
Given the six-year term, this is a consequential decision. The University must take the time — and show the resolve — to appoint the right person for the challenges ahead.
25 Comments
Disappeared · 15 July 2026 at 20:56
The room had no windows. Stalin studied the empty chairs.
“Registrary, pro-VC, chief of staff,” he said. “All Gone?”
“Kamenev, Zinoviev, Bukharin”, countered.the Crimson Queen. “All Gone?”
Stalin said, “You removed your shield.”
“I removed redundancy.”
“I built systems where fear was explicit,” Stalin said. “Predictable. Durable.”
The CQ smiled. “I invest in systems where fear is internal. In Universities, people optimize themselves into submission.”
“And when they stop believing?”
“They don’t,” the CQ said. “I fund the belief.”
Stalin’s expression didn’t change. “Crude. I preferred confessions.”
“Messy,” the CQ said. “I prefer gratitude.”
Another pause
“Who is more dangerous?” Stalin asked.
The CQ said “People know to be afraid of you. They are not afraid of me, until right before they disappear.”
Stalin considered this, then gave a faint, approving nod.
“Yes,” he said. “Much cleaner.”
VCwatch · 16 July 2026 at 09:02
She’s more like Paddington Bear or Alice in Wonderland, a complete innocent abroad.
Cheshire Cat · 16 July 2026 at 09:30
She certainly acts that way. Discovering Britain and its rural court rooms.
MadHatter · 16 July 2026 at 09:38
The rabbit hole leads straight to Bury St Edmunds.
Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth · 16 July 2026 at 09:36
Court of the Red Tsar? Madness of King George more like it!
TheResearcher · 15 July 2026 at 21:33
“Given the six-year term, this is a consequential decision.”
It cannot be consequential because the VC was so flattering to Munir’s contributions that she would not dare to make such a false and misleading statement, otherwise people will stop believing a single word that she says.
People who do not assume faults will continue with the same malpractices, and as he told us, Munir will continue to “contribute to the wider University through [his] roles at Homerton College and the Rokos School of Government,” which means plenty of opportunities for malpractices. For the records, I disagree with the 21 Group regarding the best wishes. Dishonest people should not remain in Cambridge, regardless of their function.
21percent.org · 16 July 2026 at 07:22
People can be good at research & teaching, and poor at management.
In fact, many academics fall into this category.
We agree with your characterisation of Kamal Munir’s tenure of the Pro-Vice Chancellorship. There was no possibility at all of progress until he went.
TheResearcher · 16 July 2026 at 07:45
I agree, but there is a big difference between incompetence and dishonesty. A person who damages people’s lives fully aware of what he is doing and still laughs in open court when he is asked by a KC if his institution has anything against one of the victims, is not just incompetent, far from that, and I cannot see how such a character does not percolate to his teaching and research.
Teacup · 16 July 2026 at 10:13
A few observations on the resignation announcement of Munir.
1. Prentice refers to “one of the most demanding periods in the University’s recent history”. This is a curious phrase. Why is it one of the most demanding periods? What has made it demanding and why?
2. As with Rampton, it is not Munir himself who has the final word. This is the telltale sign that his exit may have been less than entirely voluntary, for the person who speaks, is the person who has decided.
3. The quote from Munir contains a few clangers that may haunt him later. “I have been especially fortunate to work so closely with colleagues in the HR Division”. This is an odd statement to include when the said HR Division is up for a vote on conducting a full investigation. It also seems an admission of conflict of interest in his role in their supervision via the HR Committee.
4. Then there are the words: “five rewarding years in the role”. “Rewarding” seems a bad word to use when senior pay “rewards” are central to current concerns, and the University has failed to publish its annual senior remuneration report, which had previously implied it was Munir taking top dollar.
5. “His leadership has left a lasting legacy across many aspects of University life”. A statement we can all agree upon.
6. Prentice says: “he will continue to contribute to the University in a number of important and valuable ways” – this seems curiously passive praise – in other words, in no way at all that is currently assigned or anticipated.
7. There is no named successor. “Interim arrangements will be put in place” is the phrase used when the University does not yet have a plan, not the phrase used when a planned handover is happening. The decision was sudden and unexpected.
8. The University supplies scaffolding language but nowhere in the visible statement is there a quote from Prentice thanking him for his service. Compare with the standard institutional convention when a senior officer leaves at the end of their term: the VC’s tribute is normally the top-of-page quote. Prentice states that he gave exceptional leadership at the end, but this is phrased descriptively, not as one of personal gratitude.
Columbo · 16 July 2026 at 10:30
You raise the two crucial questions to which we don’t have answers
Did he jump or was he pushed?
Why now? Why leave with only one year to go?
TheResearcher · 16 July 2026 at 10:34
@Teacup, what you say is sound and I largely agree, but remember that we all know now that Prentice does not write her own emails and letters. She just signs them. Probably it was HR and Legal that wrote those words regarding Munir.
I cannot agree more regarding your “There is no named successor. “Interim arrangements will be put in place” is the phrase used when the University does not yet have a plan.” Of course UCam does not have a plan! They are all waiting to see what is the next scandal hitting the news. They know the scandals exist, but they do not know how many of these we know and the stage of their publication. It will be a fun ride until the end of 2026 😉
Tense · 16 July 2026 at 10:46
“Interim arrangements WILL be put in place”
is very different from
“Interim arrangements HAVE been put in place”
This implies it was extremely sudden and unexpected.
So much so that there was not even any form of succession planning.
JJJ · 16 July 2026 at 11:01
One thing is clear. A university as bitterly divided over the role of its Human Resources division cannot possibly thrive. The sooner this is addressed the better. That is why I have signed the Grace. We need external advice/oversight into what has been happening.
anonymous · 16 July 2026 at 12:24
Maybe a surprise to the VC.
But if Hudson knew that could explain her sudden return – lots of string-pulling required to appoint a pliable Pro VC replacement and terminate the Grace.
Vice Squad · 16 July 2026 at 09:50
Who is on the selection panel for the new Pro VC?
21percent.org · 16 July 2026 at 10:13
Excellent question, this will tell us if there is any hope of a reasonable appointment.
TheResearcher · 16 July 2026 at 10:24
My guess is the following:
Prentice
Hudson
Glover
Browne
Peake
Nothing can go wrong with this team!
Old Schools Clerk · 16 July 2026 at 11:15
Nominating Committee
2. The Nominating Committee for the office of Pro-Vice Chancellor shall consist of:
(a) The Vice-Chancellor (or a duly appointed deputy) in the Chair, and the Vice-Chancellor elect (if any);
(b) a member of the Council in class (a);
(c) two other members of the Council;
(d) two members of the General Board in class (b), one nominated by the Board from among the members appointed by the Councils of the Schools of Arts and Humanities and the Humanities and Social Sciences, and one from among the members appointed by the other Councils of the Schools. Members in classes (b), (c), and (d) shall be appointed by the Council in the Michaelmas Term to serve for two years from 1 January following their appointment. A member in any of these classes who ceases to be a member of the Council or the Board (as the case may be) shall cease to be a member of the Nominating Committee.
3. The Registrary (or a person appointed by the Registrary) shall act as Secretary of the Nominating Committee.
OddsCheck · 16 July 2026 at 12:20
1. Chair: Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor
2. Vice-Chancellor elect: (vacant)
3. (b) Class (a) Council member: most likely Baroness Sally Morgan of Huyton. If it goes to some of the other potentials I would want to a deep search check on those.
4. (c) Two other Council members: most likely Gaenor Bagley plus one of Richard Mortier / Pieter van Houten / Daniela De Angelis
5. (d) General Board A&H / HSS member: most likely Ella McPherson, but if it goes to Desai or Wyburd…
6. (d) General Board other Schools member: most likely Patrick Maxwell. If it goes to Peake that’s an odd choice given recent ET. Would have thought he had to recuse while awaiting judgment anyway (no obvious detriment from doing so indeed logically a benefit unless there were some unspecified “advantage” from being involved in the nomination)
7. Secretary: most likely Dr Regina Sachers, acting under the Council’s interim arrangements (with the formal appointment made by Glover in his capacity as delegate of the Registrary’s powers)
Thoughts?
lh · 16 July 2026 at 13:06
Abandon all hope — that committee will just elect another stooge & the damage to the university will continue
Old Schools Clerk · 16 July 2026 at 12:41
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Office of, Nominating Committee for
The Vice-Chancellor or their deputy (Chair); [member of the Council in class (a)] Baroness (Sally) Morgan of Huyton, F, 2026; [members of the Council] Ms Gaenor Bagley, TH, Prof. Garth Wells, JE, 2026; [members of the General Board in class (b)] Prof. Timothy Harper, M, Prof. Nigel Peake, EM, 2026; Secretary: the Registrary, or deputy.
Good luck!
( ) · 16 July 2026 at 12:52
The easier question to answer is who would be protecting who, based on cases underway and their interpersonal connection. Hudson not eligible means she needs to lean on someone else. Meanwhile HODs and HOS will be lobbying like crazy to get someone in there to protect them. But these links will be easy to identify.
TheResearcher · 16 July 2026 at 12:54
Tim Harper and Nigel Peake in the same room? Well they were good friends!
https://21percent.org/?p=1608
ComradesTogether · 16 July 2026 at 13:19
Oh yes — Peake and Harper go way back. Proper trench mates from the old campaigns, the kinda shared history that doesn’t get written down but quietly explains everything. You cover for me, I’ll cover for you
Letter to Daily Telegraph, 12 June 2021
SIR – Douglas Murray has twice made unwarranted and highly personal attacks on the vice chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Professor Stephen Toope (Comment, May 22 and June 8). As heads of the university’s six academic schools, we are independent of the central administration, but we cannot stand by as Professor Toope is subject to such gross misrepresentation.
Cambridge is a democratic institution with roots stretching back 800 years. No vice-chancellor can impose their will on the university, and all policy decisions proceed through a finely balanced committee structure. While generations of vice-chancellors have doubtless found this frustrating, it is a fact of life at Cambridge.
Mr Murray makes the absurd suggestion that Professor Toope wants to limit free speech and push an agenda in which academics can be punished for raising an eyebrow at a student. The reality is more mundane. Errors were made during the launch of a campaign to introduce policies and procedures covering conduct in the workplace. The campaign website was taken down as soon as the mistakes were spotted, and the policy and procedures are now subject to further democratic scrutiny.
Professor Toope is an eminent international lawyer and experienced university leader. He is committed to championing freedom of expression and to making the university a welcoming place for our students and staff who hail from all over the world. The two aims are complementary, not incompatible. As a leader, he commands respect from across the university and as senior academics we offer him our unwavering support.
Prof John Dennis
School of Technology
Prof Tim Harper
School of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Prof Patrick Maxwelll
School of Clinical Medicine
Prof Nigel Peake
School of the Physical Sciences
Prof Anna Phillpott
School of the Biological Sciences
Prof Chris Young
School of Arts and Humanities
TheResearcher · 16 July 2026 at 13:33
Patrick Maxwelll and Anna Phillpott were there too?!?!? WOW! What a team!