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Michael Gove has backed Labour peer Peter Mandelson over former Tory leader William Hague in their bid to become the next chancellor of Oxford University.
The contest for the prestigious role has come down to a battle between the two political heavyweights.
Mr Gove – who previously served in David Cameron’s cabinet alongside Lord Hague – showed his support for Lord Mandelson on social media, reposting a campaign video from the Labour veteran.
It is not the first time the Mr Gove has abandoned a former cabinet colleague, having turned on Boris Johnson in the 2016 leadership election and effectively thwarting his bid to become prime minister.
His support comes days after Lord Hague hit out at Lord Mandelson, arguing that the role was “not compatible” with the Labour peer’s current hopes of also becoming the UK’s ambassador to the US.
Lord Mandelson helped mastermind Labour’s three general election wins under Sir Tony Blair, including the 2001 election which forced Lord Hague to resign as Tory leader.
The video, reposted by Mr Gove, saw Lord Mandelson boast his credentials as the chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, saying he is the only candidate with that level of experience.
“Whoever is the new chancellor will have to make a very big contribution to keeping Oxford at the top of its game”, he said.
Mr Gove – the former levelling up secretary and now editor of the right-leaning Spectator – also printed an opinion piece from Lord Mandelson in the magazine at the start of November, entitled: ‘My bid to be chancellor of Oxford’, which saw him argue the need to focus on being a global ambassador and fundraiser for the university.
Mr Gove’s backing of the Labour heavyweight comes despite the two men having vastly differing opinions on Brexit, with Lord Mandelson being one of the most prominent voices against the UK’s departure from the European Union. Meanwhile, Mr Gove mastermined the Brexit campaign.
At the weekend, Lord Hague questioned Lord Mandelson’s claim that he was capable of holding positions in Oxford and the US because the former is merely a “ceremonial figurehead”.
In an interview with The Independent, Lord Hague said Lord Mandelson could not possibly do the Oxford job while living on the other side of the Atlantic.
“It is important to be accessible and to be there [in Oxford],” Lord Hague stressed. “You need to be active and energetic.
“I am diplomatically saying it is not compatible with full-time employment in another country. Being a ‘ceremonial figurehead’ was only one part of the job. It has changed in the last 20 years.
“Going to ceremonies and being a figurehead … also requires physical presence in the country and in the universities. But these days it involves much more … [such as] fundraising and explaining the brilliance of Oxford. It’s really important to be active and energetic.
“It is necessary for the chancellor to be able to go there frequently.”
Lord Hague also rejected Lord Mandelson’s claim that it was time for a Labour chancellor on the grounds that the post should not be a “Tory monopoly”.
“There have been good chancellors – and they weren’t all white male Tories”, the former party leader told The Independent.
Mr Gove has been contacted for comment.
