By admin A university boss famous for his free speech campaigning and ‘anti-woke’ views has been suspended amid ‘serious allegations’.
James Tooley, vice chancellor of the University of Buckingham, is barred from working while an inquiry takes place, students have been told.
They were informed by a letter sent by university managers last week, but it is not clear what the claims relate to.
Last night, Professor Tooley issued a statement through his lawyer branding the claims ‘baseless and malicious’, adding that he would soon be ‘vindicated’.
James Tooley, vice chancellor of the University of Buckingham (pictured), is barred from working while an inquiry takes place, students have been told
Buckingham, the country’s oldest private university, was founded in 1976 and granted university status seven years later
Professor Tooley, who specialises in education policy, has led the private university since 2020, when he succeeded historian Sir Anthony Seldon.
Earlier this year, he unveiled a new course on the ‘woke’ movement, with related MA and PhD programmes.
At the time, he said he had been inspired by Buckingham’s co-founder and former chancellor, Margaret Thatcher, who he felt had been ‘at his shoulder’.
And he said: ‘Our vision is viewpoint diversity, we want to be a leader in academic freedom…
‘Nine out of ten social science academics in the UK are left-leaning.
‘We want to give a voice to conservatism, classical liberalism and libertarianism.’
Professor Tooley also went against the grain this year by criticising Cambridge University for ‘discriminating’ against privately educated white boys, because of diversity targets.
And he also said the drive to decolonise the curriculum was ‘dangerous’.
On Friday last week, university managers sent out a letter reading: ‘I am writing to inform you that the Vice Chancellor has been suspended following a number of serious allegations…
‘It is our intention to carry out an independent inquiry to ascertain the veracity of these claims.’
According to the letter, chief financial officer David Cole, chief administrative officer Chris Payne and pro vice-chancellor Harriet Dunbar-Morris have been asked to act as interim co-heads of the university.
Last night, Professor Tooley issued a statement through the firm Griffin Law rejecting the claims.
He said: ‘The allegations made against me are baseless and malicious.
‘I look forward to being vindicated in due course, but in accordance with the University’s processes, I am unable to comment further at this time.
‘I remain, however, a committed advocate of free speech and academic freedom.’
A University of Buckingham spokesman said: ‘We can confirm a member of the University staff has been suspended due to a number of serious allegations.
‘It is our intention that an independent inquiry be conducted to ascertain the veracity of these claims.
‘We are unable to make any further comment until this investigation is completed.’
Buckingham, the country’s oldest private university, was founded in 1976 and granted university status seven years later.
Professor Tooley is also known for his work helping to set up low-cost private schools, having helped create similar schools in developing countries.
He was formerly an academic at Newcastle University and has a PhD from the Institute of Education at the University of London.