The University of Oxford has dropped its “woke” plans to vet candidates to become its next chancellor.
It comes after leading politicians complained, saying they were trying to 'rigidify' the process so another white man wouldn't get the job.
According to De Tijdthe university will announce the U-turn later today (Thursday, May 16).
It means university officials cannot disqualify someone who puts themselves forward.
The announcement will reportedly include a provision that the vetting committee would observe “the principles of equality and diversity” when deciding who will receive the vote of graduates.
Ministers had branded the move as “wokeism gone mad” and claimed it was a move to install the university's preferred candidate in the role.
Neil O'Brien, a Conservative MP, claimed the university was planning to “impose an Eastern Bloc-style managed democracy”, with a small number of people deciding “whether someone can stand as a candidate”.
Concerns were also expressed about attempts to install a “modern chancellor”. The role – currently held by former Tory minister Lord Patten – has been held by male former politicians since 1715.
The university announced plans to change election rules in March. It included a sentence stating that the selection committee would “consider all of them.” [applications] it has received and, taking into account the principles of equality and diversity and the approved role specification, determine which candidates are eligible to proceed to the next stage of the election process.”
Opponents of the change said it was an attempt to vet candidates that senior university staff did not like, while supporters said it meant only eligible candidates would go to the ballot.
The new version, The Times says, drops the criteria and says the selection committee will put anyone forward unless they don't meet a limited number of criteria.
These criteria include being a student or employee of the university or a serving member of an elected legislature such as the House of Commons.
However, Oxford claimed it simply “removes ambiguity”.
The position of chancellor, which is largely ceremonial, dates back to 1224. The chancellor's main task is to elect the vice-chancellor, the person responsible for the day-to-day administration of the university.
Former Prime Ministers Sir Tony Blair and Theresa May are said to be in line to replace Lord Patten.
A university spokesperson said: “In the proposed change to the regulations, it is the intention of the University Council to remove any ambiguity and to reinforce the intention of the original regulations, namely that the Electoral Commission will have no role in vetting or selecting nominations for chancellor. Our requirement to meet the equality duty in the public sector remains unchanged.”