As Lord Chris Patten steps down as chancellor of the University of Oxford, he openly criticized Labour’s Lord Peter Mandelson’s bid for the position, calling his argument for a non-Tory chancellor “a sort of stupid argument” and “a real mistake.”

Patten, the 80-year-old former Conservative MP, had served as Oxford’s chancellor since 2003 and is the first to retire from the post in over 300 years.

Mandelson, who is among a host of candidates running for the role, launched his campaign with a nod to the political landscape of Oxford’s chancellors over the last century.

“Just two of the nine chancellors in the last century had not been Tory,” Mandelson noted in a recent interview. He argued that the position should not remain the domain of Conservatives, saying, “I don’t see why the Conservatives should have a monopoly on this position.”

Patten Pushes Back

However, Patten was quick to counter Mandelson’s argument, emphasizing that the chancellorship should be free of party politics. “I mean, it is a sort of stupid argument. People are actually saying the chancellor is always Conservative,” Patten said.

He pointed out that his immediate predecessor, Roy Jenkins, was a Labour cabinet minister, while Jenkins’ predecessor was the Conservative Harold Macmillan, a former prime minister.

Patten further criticized the notion of making the election about a left-versus-right debate. “I think it is a real mistake to try to turn it into a left-right issue,” he added, noting that a chancellor should be judged by their contributions to Oxford, not their political affiliation.

“You are not a leftwing chancellor or a rightwing chancellor. If you are any good, you are a chancellor that is good for Oxford and understands Oxford. I suppose it is an attempt to drum up support. It is not really where it is at.”

Mandelson Among High-Profile Candidates

In addition to Mandelson, other notable figures standing for election include former Conservative cabinet ministers William Hague and Dominic Grieve.

Hague, who has been involved with Oxford’s financial review for the past two decades, raised over £5 billion during that time and continues to teach at the university. Grieve, like Hague, also maintains close ties with Oxford.

Patten refrained from endorsing any particular candidate but commented that the ideal successor should be someone who “understands Oxford and isn’t just doing it to step a bit further up the greasy pole.” When asked if this was a reference to Mandelson, Patten cryptically responded, “I couldn’t possibly comment.”

Patten’s decision to step down is a rare one. He is the first chancellor in modern history to retire from the role while still alive. “I just thought 21 years was quite enough,” Patten said, citing the workload and his desire to give the role to someone with fresh ideas.

While some may view the chancellorship as largely ceremonial, Patten described it as much more than that. “I am probably there twice a week, fundraising, lots of speeches, a bit of teaching,” he explained. “The last chancellor that retired whilst still alive was in 1715. I thought it was time to behave like everyone else.”

New Era for Oxford

The upcoming election is expected to draw votes from tens of thousands of Oxford’s former and current students, with voting set to begin on 28 October. The election will be conducted online for the first time, making it more accessible to voters across the globe.

In addition to the familiar political figures, candidates like Elish Angiolini, principal of St Hugh’s College, and Imran Khan, the currently imprisoned former prime minister of Pakistan, are also vying for the prestigious post.

Should at least 10 candidates stand, a second round of voting will take place in mid-November, narrowing the field to the top five contenders.