The University of Buckingham has been accused by its own staff of attempting to oust its vice-chancellor because of his “Right-wing” views.
In a legal letter sent to the university, a group of senior academics and senate members said that Prof James Tooley’s recent suspension was fuelled by a “history of animosity” between Mark Qualter, the chair of the university council, and the vice-chancellor.
Mr Qualter suspended Prof Tooley from his £229,000-a-year post on 11th October with immediate effect, following a number of “serious allegations” against him.
The decision was announced in an email sent to almost 4,000 staff and students, with Prof Tooley evicted that same day from Ondaatje Hall, his grace-and-favour house on the university grounds.
It has since emerged that the “serious allegations” were from his estranged wife, Cynthia, whom he’s in the process of divorcing. They related to her husband’s possession of a junior air rifle, which does not require a firearms licence, and a previous relationship with a woman in India.
Allies of the professor told the Telegraph that these “vexatious” allegations were seized on by the university’s management, who have been eager to eject him for some time. According to one academic, it was “a means of damaging him, because they don’t like him. They think he’s too libertarian, too Thatcherite, too Right-wing”.
Prof Tooley is a staunch free speech advocate who has spoken out publicly against the “cancel culture” he believes has taken root across British campuses.
In their letter, the academics said that Mr Qualter had “not followed” due process in suspending Prof Tooley, pointing out that he did so without consulting the wider university council. They called for the decision to be “immediately lifted” and urged Mr Qualter to recuse himself from an investigation into the allegations being handled by the university’s nomination and governance committee, of which he is also chair.
The “history of animosity between the chair of council and the vice-chancellor,” the letter said, “makes it even more important that the university’s governance regime is correctly applied and that the suspension and investigation are carried out in a fair and impartial manner.”
Although the letter did not make a specific threat of legal action, it said the university’s 22 council members “may wish to obtain their own independent legal advice in respect of these matters”.
Sources complained to the Telegraph of a creep of bureaucracy within the university by “managerialists” keen to close the door on its reputation as a free speech institution. One academic said: “The paradox here is that this so-called free-market university appears to be populated at its high levels with people who don’t believe anything of the sort. And they particularly don’t seem to believe in freedom of expression and freedom of speech.”
A Buckingham University spokesman responded: “As previously stated, the university was informed of a number of serious allegations against our vice-chancellor.
“To protect all parties involved, including the vice-chancellor himself, he was suspended following due process and legal advice to allow for an independent investigation. This investigation is being conducted by an independent leading KC and will be completed as soon as possible.
“Although the process has been complicated by the number of allegations made, the university is absolutely certain about the integrity of the process followed.”
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