Former Conservative Party leader and former foreign minister of England William Hague was voted on Wednesday to be the next chancellor of the University of Oxford, a position that has been primarily ceremonial for decades.
Hague was chosen to fill what is regarded as one of the most prestigious posts in higher education, replacing Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong in British history and a former prominent Conservative politician.
He defeated three other contenders, including Peter Mandelson, the former Labour minister.
According to the university, Hague “won an overwhelming majority of support in the last round of voting for the position” and will become the 160th chancellor in the institution’s history—a position that has existed for at least 800 years.
Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), sought for the chancellorship at the esteemed institution in September, even though he was imprisoned for politically motivated cases and other unproven offenses related to inciting violence during last year’s May 9 riots.
The seat was left empty following the departure of 80-year-old Lord Patten, who had held the position for 21 years.
But according to his counsel, the former prime minister’s application was turned down in October.
Imran’s name was not on the shortlist of 38 candidates that Oxford had made available for the first round of voting.
Former English prime leaders Sir Tony Blair and Boris Johnson were on the list of applicants for the position of chancellor at the institution.
