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Oxford University could have its first female Chancellor

BBC An aerial view of the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, and other university buildings next to it.BBC
The new Chancellor will be announced in the week of 25 November

The senior lawyer who led the inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard is one of two women who could become the first female Chancellor of Oxford University.

The final five candidates for the historic position have been announced.

Among them is Lady Elish Angiolini, who is currently the principal of St Hugh's College in Oxford, Scotland's former Lord Advocate, and the chairwoman of the inquiry into Wayne Couzens.

Baroness Jan Royall, who is the principal of Somerville College in Oxford, is also in the running.

Lord William Hague, Lord Peter Mandelson, and former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve round out the final five.

PA Pictures of Lady Elish Angiolini and Lord William Hague. Lady Elish Angiolini has red hair in a bob, wears glasses with cat-eye style frames, and a black top. Lord William Hague, who is bald on top with trimmed grey hair on the sides, wears a suit with a red tie.PA
Lady Elish Angiolini and Lord William Hague have made it to the final round of voting...

Earlier this year Lord Patten announced he would be retiring from the position after more than 20 years.

A list of 38 candidates who successfully applied for the role was revealed last month.

The former Prime Minister of Pakistan and cricket player Imran Khan, who has been in prison for more than a year, also made a bid which was rejected, his adviser said.

More than 23,000 staff and alumni of the university voted online for the new Chancellor, a post that has been in place at Oxford for 800 years.

BBC/Getty Images Pictures of Lord Peter Mandelson, Baroness Jan Royall, and Dominic Grieve. Lord Mandelson has grey hair and glasses with black frames, and wears a suit jacket with a white shirt. Baroness Jan Royall has short red hair and wears a suit jacket with a cream pullover. Mr Grieve has grey/brown hair and wears a suit with a blue patterned tie.BBC/Getty Images
...as have Lord Peter Mandelson, Baroness Jan Royall, and Dominic Grieve

The final five will now proceed to the second round of voting, which takes place from 18 November, with the new Chancellor announced in the week of 25 November.

They will be in post as the titular head of the university for a fixed term of no more than 10 years, presiding over key ceremonies, and chairing the committee to elect the Vice-Chancellor.

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