Mr. Hague, a former leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, was chosen in a vote by his fellow alumni to lead the elite university.

Former foreign secretary and Conservative Party leader William Hague has been elected as the new chancellor of the University of Oxford. Lord Hague, who graduated from Magdalen College in 1982, will be formally inaugurated into the predominantly ceremonial role in the new year.

Former U.K. Conservative Party leader William Hague has been elected chancellor of Oxford University, one of the most prestigious positions in British academia.

Appointment comes after the former Tory leader told The Independent his chief rival’s claim – that the role is merely a ‘ceremonial figurehead’ – was wrong

William Hague, a former British foreign minister and onetime leader of the Conservative Party, was elected on Wednesday as the next chancellor of the University of Oxford, a largely ceremonial role which dates back centuries.

Lord Hague, the former Conservative party leader, has been elected as the next chancellor of the University of Oxford. He will be formally inaugurated early in the new year, becoming the 160th recorded chancellor in Oxford’s history.

William Hague led throughout the race and defeated Elish Angiolini, the principal of Oxford’s St. Hugh’s College, by 1,603 votes in the final round of balloting that involved nearly 25,000 alumni