Former Conservative leader William Hague appointed Oxford University chancellor

LONDON:

William Hague

, a former leader of the

Conservative Party

and foreign minister, was elected on Wednesday as the next

chancellor

of the

University of Oxford

, a largely

ceremonial role

which dates back centuries.
Hague was named as successor to

Chris Patten

, Britain's last governor of Hong Kong and a former senior Conservative politician, for what is seen as one of the grandest positions in

higher education

.
He beat off competition from the former labour minister

Peter Mandelson

and three other candidates.
The university said Hague "won a majority of support in the final round of voting for the post" and he will be 160th recorded chancellor in the university's history, a role that dates back at least 800 years.