Patten accepts 'tall order' of leading Oxford in hard times

The post has been described as "impotence assuaged by grandeur", but Chris Patten was less ambiguous yesterday.

The last governor of Hong Kong said his election to the chancellorship of Oxford University was "an honour more profound than I can easily describe" and promised to promote the university at home and abroad during his tenure.

Mr Patten, 58, currently an EU commissioner, beat off a strong challenge from Lord Bingham of Cornhill, the senior law lord and former lord chief justice, when more than 8,000 Oxford graduates cast their votes during the election on Friday and Saturday.

The other two candidates were Lord Neill of Bladen QC, a former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and a past vice-chancellor of the university, and the comedian and broadcaster Sandy Toksvig. In the final round of voting, Mr Patten received 4,203 votes, 1,720 more than the runner-up, Lord Bingham. The election was dominated by the issue of tuition fees, even though undergraduates are not allowed to vote.

Mr Patten will replace Lord Jenkins of Hillhead, the former politician who was chancellor for 15 years until his death in January. He was the man who described one of education's most coveted roles in terms of impotence and grandeur. The post, which is unpaid and mainly ceremonial, is for life.

Mr Patten said in a statement: "Oxford is one of the greatest universities in the world. It is an honour, more profound than I can easily describe, to be asked to help the university deal with the challenges of the next few years, to advocate and stand up for its interests at home and abroad. To follow Roy Jenkins will be an extremely tall order. But I promise to do my best and hope to meet the expectations of those who voted for me."

Under the single transferable vote system, used for the first time by the university in a chancellorship election, Ms Toksvig was eliminated from the final round. Lord Neill was ranked in third place after attracting 1,470 votes in the final round. Voters were asked to list the candidates in order of preference. In the first round of voting, Mr Patten received 3,657 votes, Lord Bingham got 2,251 votes, Lord Neill received 1,290, and Ms Toksvig 1,179.

Mr Patten will be installed as chancellor at a special ceremony, which will probably be held on June 25 alongside the presentation of an honorary degree, known as Encaenia.

Mr Patten is a graduate of Balliol College, where he is an honorary fellow. After becoming the youngest director of the Conservative Party's research department in 1974, he was MP for Bath between 1979 and 1992. From 1990 to 1992, Mr Patten was chairman of the Conservative Party. He served as Governor of Hong Kong between 1992 and 1997 and oversaw the handover to China.

Mr Patten has also been chancellor of Newcastle University since 1999, but has insisted that this will not affect his commitment to Oxford.

The result was announced by Professor Tim Softley, the university's senior proctor. Professor Softley said the vote showed a "very clear victory" for Mr Patten. He added that the former Conservative Party chairman would have to tackle some serious issues in his new role as chancellor.

"There are some challenging questions that need to be addressed and I think it's very important that we have a chancellor who has been close to the reins of power," Professor Softley said. "These are very important, developing times for the university."

Will Straw, president of the university's Students' Union and son of the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, expressed his disappointment at the result. He had campaigned for Ms Toksvig, the only candidate to oppose top-up fees. Mr Straw said: "We are disappointed that Sandi didn't win. But we are also pleased that a precedent has been set for a candidate who is both female and younger."

Ms Toksvig, who was supported in her candidacy by the Liberal Democrats, congratulated Mr Patten on his election. She said the number of voters attracted to her "no-fees" campaign showed the strength of feeling against the Government's higher education policy.

"During my campaign I met many people who share my view, and that of the Liberal Democrats, that top-up fees and tuition fees are wrong," she said. "The fact that a 'no fees' candidate gained more than a thousand votes will send a clear message to the Government about the unpopularity of their proposals for top-up fees."