2026 University of St Andrews Chancellor election

2026 University of St Andrews Chancellor election
16–22 February 2026 (2026-02-16 – 2026-02-22)
 
Candidate Anne Pringle The Lord Sedwill
 
Candidate Alexandra Walmsley Barbara Woodward
Incumbent Chancellor

The Lord Campbell of Pittenweem


The 2026 University of St Andrews election for the position of Chancellor became necessary upon the death of the incumbent chancellor, Walter Menzies Campbell, Baron Campbell of Pittenweem.[1][2] Voting opened on the 16 February and will close at 17:00 on 22 February 2026.[3]

Since the creation of the position in the 1410s, every Chancellor of St Andrews has been either a peer or an archbishop, with the notable exception of Sir Kenneth Dover.[4] Other previous holders of the post include royals James, Duke of Ross; Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge; Prince William, Duke of Cumberland; and former prime minister Stanley Baldwin. The term of the appointment will be for ten years, subject to approval by the Privy Council; previous office holders held life tenure.[5]

Electorate and voting

The electorate is made up of members of the General Council which includes: graduates of the university, members and former members of the University Court, professors and former professors, and other senior academic staff.[6]

Following the uncontested election of Menzies Campbell in 2006,[7] this will be the first election conducted through electronic voting and will adopt the alternative vote system.[6] Nominations for the position opened on 1 December 2025 and closed on 9 January 2026, with confirmed candidates announced later in the month on the 26th. Voting will take place in the third week of Candlemas semester between 16 and 22 February 2026. The successful candidate will be announced in the week commencing the fourth week of Candlemas.[3]

Candidates

Candidates are not required to have studied or hold a degree from St Andrews in order to stand for the chancellorship; the most recent Chancellor to have studied at the university was George Gledstanes, appointed in 1604. Candidates are eligible to stand if they receive nominations from at least 25 members of the General Council, are not employed by the university or a matriculated student, and if their candidacy does not bring the university into disrepute.[6] Four candidates were confirmed to have met the criteria and were announced on 26 January 2026, all of whom are alumni.[3]

Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order:[8]

Name
Degree(s) from St Andrews 		Current and former roles Notes Campaign
Dame Anne Pringle[9]
Hon. LL.D., 2022
M.A. French and German, 1977 		Former British Ambassador to Russia and British Ambassador to the Czech Republic Former Senior Lay Member (Senior Governor) of the University Court[10]
Notable Supporters

– Professor Frances Andrews
– Professor Sharon Ashbrook
– Professor Paul Boyle
– Professor James Naismith
– Professor Stuart Monro
– Catherine Stihler
– Professor Sir David Wallace

Mark Sedwill, Baron Sedwill[11]
Hon. LL.D., 2022
B.Sc. Economics, 1987 		Former Cabinet Secretary and National Security Advisor of the United Kingdom Current Non-Executive Member of the University Court[12] Sedwill for St Andrews
Website
Notable Supporters

General Council Members
– Dame Madeleine Alessandri
– Professor Ali Ansari
– Very Revd Dr Derek Browning
– Sir Ian Diamond
– Sir Michael Fallon
– Lord Forsyth of Drumlean
– Dr Fiona Hill
– Alison Johns
– Sir Andrew Mackenzie
– Professor Ewan McKendrick
– Professor Phillips O'Brien
– Lord Robertson of Port Ellen
– Sir John Rose
– Professor Guy Rowlands
– Professor Christopher Smith
– Lt Gen Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne
– Professor Sir Hew Strachan
– Brian Viner
– Viscount Younger of Leckie
– Sir Alex Younger
– Lt Gen Sir Barney White-Spunner
Other Supporters
– The Lord Gove[13]
– Johnny Mercer[14]
- General David Petraeus
– Sir Julian Smith[15]

Lady Walmsley[16][A]
Ph.D. History, 1998
M.A. History and International Relations, 1993 		Defence, security and nuclear consultant Alex 4 Chancellor
Website
Dame Barbara Woodward[18]
M.A. History, 1983 		Deputy National Security Advisor; Former Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and British Ambassador to China Barbara Woodward for Chancellor
Website
Notable Supporters
– Professor Colin Ballantyne
– Hans van Mourik Broekman

The St Andrews student newspaper, The Saint, reported that the election could result in the university's first female Chancellor since the 1410s.[19]

On 12 February, the Free Speech Union and Alumni for Free Speech jointly endorsed both Lord Sedwill and Lady Walmsley as strong free speech candidates.[20][21] On 13 February, the working day before voting formally began, The Times named Lord Sedwill as the frontrunner for the position.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell dies". Sky News.
  2. ^ "University of St Andrews to elect new Chancellor". University of St Andrews. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Chancellorian Election Timetable" (PDF). General Council of the University of St Andrews.
  4. ^ "Sir Kenneth Dover". University of St Andrews. 8 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Role Description" (PDF). General Council of the University of St Andrews.
  6. ^ a b c "Chancellorian Election Rules" (PDF). General Council of the University of St Andrews.
  7. ^ "Sir Menzies takes university post". BBC News. 22 April 2006.
  8. ^ "Chancellor - About". University of St Andrews. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Candidate - Dame Anne Pringle". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Laureation address Anne Pringle - Graduation - University of St Andrews". University of St Andrews. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Candidate - Lord Mark Sedwill". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Members of University Court". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  13. ^ Michael Gove [@michaelgove] (1 February 2026). "A guid choice" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Johnny Mercer [@JohnnyMercerUK] (16 February 2026). "We need better people in public life. St. Andrews has a chance to elect a man of real principle, integrity and character as their Chancellor tomorrow. If you are eligible, please vote for my friend Mark Sedwill" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Julian Smith [@JulianSmithUK] (1 February 2026). "An excellent pick for @univofstandrews - Mark has unrivalled knowledge & experience on multiple civil service, political & national security fronts & would be a very great asset to Scotland's first university" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Candidate - Lady Alex Walmsley". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  17. ^ Sigsworth, Tim; Dorrington, Jamie (8 April 2024). "Glaxo boss at centre of family feud over death of retired vice-admiral". The Telegraph.
  18. ^ "Candidate - Dame Barbara Woodward". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. University of St Andrews. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  19. ^ Shaw, Sarayah (12 February 2026). "University of St Andrews to Elect New Chancellor by Late February". The Saint.
  20. ^ Smith, Mark (16 February 2026). "Battle has commenced at St Andrews University. Will it go the right way?". The Herald.
  21. ^ "Recommended free speech candidates in St Andrews Chancellorship election" (PDF). Alumni for Free Speech. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  22. ^ Lambert, Georgia (13 February 2026). "Lord Sedwill: Universities cross line to protect Chinese student intake". The Times.

Notes

  1. ^ Lady Walmsley by virtue of her marriage to her late husband[17]
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