Candidates are coming out of the woodwork in the running for Oxford University’s Chancellorship. Peter Mandelson has been confirmed today to be gunning for the role, after shadow campaigning for some time. Someone’s preparing for alternatives to those ambassadorial dreams…

Chris Patten has served in the prized role since 2003. Were Mandelson to win he would be the first card-carrying Labour member in the role. He’s up against Tory big hitter William Hague, who announced last week. This time the Chancellor’s Election Committee has said it will remove candidates from the election process whom it does not consider “suitable” and it will give “due regard to the principles of equality and diversity“. Oxford undergrads will no doubt look past Willy’s un-diverse characteristics in hope of an official Hagueathon were he to win…

Rory Stewart and Theresa May have ruled themselves out. Guido provides the definitive runners and riders below:

• Peter Mandelson. Labour MPs are contacting alumni in WhatsApp groups to rustle up support for Mandelson…
• William Hague.
• Elish Angiolini: Current Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, KC who chaired the inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard. A dark horse candidate…
• Imran Khan: The former Pakistani PM is applying from prison and is supported by Peter Oborne, who says Khan must be supported despite a surely incoming “attempt by the British establishment” to block him. Uh-huh…
• Reverend Matthew Firth: Whistleblower of this year’s “fake baptisms” controversy, Firth is presenting himself as the “anti-woke, anti-establishment” candidate. Likely to take some votes off Hague…
• Professor Nigel Biggar: Famed for his more-balanced-than-most overview of the ethics of the British Empire, Biggar has supporters who’d like to witness the tears of the woke mob. Stranger things have happened…
• Maxim Parr-Reid: A recent undergraduate and tutor who’s put his hat in the ring. His Twitter campaign has 165 followers. A bit of work to do there…
• Onyeka Nwelue: a Nigerian writer who had his Academic Visitor status removed last year after he was found to be impersonating a professor for two years. He could always impersonate the Chancellor post-election…
• Ankur Shiv Bhandari: The former Mayor of Bracknell Forest. No stranger to self-promotion…
• Margaret Casely-Hayford: The outgoing Chancellor of the University of Coventry. Formerly Chairman of Shakespeare’s Globe who describes herself as “passionate about establishing diversity on boards.” Inspired…
• Harry Stratton: The socialist pick.  A “union and student activist” who is “dedicated to fighting for fair working conditions and against fee increases,” Stratton says he is endorsed by John McDonnell. A famed winner…
• Jan Royall: Former Kinnock adviser set to take votes off Mandelson. As Principal of Somerville College made all students take an “unconscious bias test.” What would Mrs Thatcher say…

Oxford won’t release a full list of candidates until early October. 250,000 alumni worldwide are entitled to vote online on the 28^th in the first internet-based election. It’s a wide field…

The Mirror’s Political Editor job is prized for aspirational, resourceful and, most importantly, pro-Labour hacks. As revealed by Guido, John Stevens’ two-year stint has come to and end with his transfer into government – which leaves the title in need of a new scoop-getter. Runners and riders currently within the Mirror family are highlighted in red…

• Lizzy Buchan – Mirror Deputy Political Editor. The frontrunner to replace Stevens.
• Mikey Smith – former Whitehall Correspondent and current Sunday Deputy Political Editor at the Mirror. Respected – through gritted teeth among Tories – for his acerbic style. Labour should provide no end of material for his favourite transparency and sleaze scoops…
• Ben Glaze – former Deputy Political Editor for five and a half years under Pippa Crerar, currently consulting for advisory firm Sodali & Co. Will Glaze be in consideration for a return to the fold?
• Kevin Schofield – political editor at the financially struggling HuffPo. He worked for the Scottish sister paper the Daily Record, might he fancy a return to the Mirror group?
• Lewis Goodall: Has The News Agents presenter yet got tired of explaining actual reality to grandad Sopel and mad giddy-aunt Emily? The former BBC left-winger is a well-known broadcast face with a biting style. Could Lewis be tempted to jump the Global ship? Can the Mirror afford him?
• James Heale: This might seem a bit of a right-field idea, bear with Guido. Yes, he’s currently The Spectator’s political correspondent and diary editor, Heale is known to be angling for a political editor position. Equipped with a strong news sense and an eye for a scoop, he’d be making an ideological jump into the unknown. The Mirror is no stranger to a surprise choice…

While plans are being formed the current expectation among sources is that Lizzie will act as pol ed through conference season while a proper appointment process is set up and carried out. An internal hire is widely expected given the Mirror’s notoriously low pay…

Now that Mark Littlewood has announced he’s stepping down as the Institute of Economic Affair’s Director General, one of the top jobs in wonk world is up for grabs. It is a high profile gig which will inevitably attract interest from all of Westminster’s brightest free marketeers. Littlewood steered the ship for 14 years; whoever comes next will have a lot to live up to. As well as formulating policies the IEA has incubated and nurtured free market talent – an important part of its role now the universities churn out ideologically uniform leftists. The job requires a mixture of talents: a policy guru with executive competence and a touch of media showmanship.

Here are some of the potential runners and riders…

• Christian May – the former editor of City A.M., and prior to that, spokesman for the Institute of Directors has been spinning for corporates for a few years. He has excellent connections in Westminster and the media. If the IEA board are looking for someone in the mould of Littlewood, he’s an articulate media performer with executive experience of running an organisation. An homme sérieux with a sense of humour…
• John O’Connell – has been running the Taxpayers’ Alliance for the last 7 years. He has a strong record of spotting and developing talent, sending numerous wonks and comms stars into government – talent spotting is an important movement function. Oversaw the TPA’s flagship Single Income Tax and 2020 Tax Commission, so is no stranger to serious academic policy development.  Has successfully maintained the TPA’s high media profile under his watch.
• Douglas Carswell – currently CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. Known for his pivotal role in the long struggle for Brexit and parliamentary defection to UKIP. People forget he contributed to the development of the Cameron’s manifesto and even wrote a best-selling wonk-ish personal manifesto. Has been writing more frequently for the British press of late. Does he fancy a return to SW1? 
• David Frost – Baron Frost is said to be mulling over applying. The man who shaped Brexit in government has plenty of policy experience and a high profile. Whether the board will want someone who has made it clear they want to become an MP is another matter. He would also probably have to become a cross-bencher or take a leave of absence…
• Juliet Samuel – the Times columnist is full of policy ideas and original takes on issues. Would she want to take on the demands of an executive position?
• Tom Clougherty – Research Director & Head of Tax at the Centre for Policy Studies. Previously executive director of the Adam Smith Institute, and then editorial director in the Cato Institute’s Centre for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. Written extensively on pro-growth tax policy, which is probably bedtime reading for the IEA board…
• Kate Andrews – Economics Editor at The Spectator. Ascended the ranks quickly in wonk world, working at the Adam Smith Institute before defecting to the IEA as their News Editor and then Associate Director. The veteran free marketer with all the right credentials is a fixture on Question Time, to the delight of Twitter. Does she fancy packing her bags and leaving Old Queen Street for another stint in wonk world?
• Daniel Hannan – Baron Hannan is a former MEP and Board of Trade member. A founder of Vote Leave, and editor of The Conservative. Does the IEA fancy swapping one (soon-to-be) Lord for another?
• Donal Blaney – The well-connected former head of the conservative madrassa, the Young Britons’ Foundation, latterly founder of Thatcher Centre has long-term links to American conservatives and donors. Would the “Rottweiler of the Right” really want to leave his lucrative legal practice and life in the Florida sunshine for Westminster?

The IEA is not without home grown internal candidates:

• Shanker Singham – is the Director of International Trade and Competition at the Institute of Economic Affairs, as well as an Academic Fellow there. Currently heading up the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project at Babson Global, part of Babson College in Maryland. Will he want to cross the Atlantic?
• Alex Morton – Currently IEA Director of Strategy. Formerly of the No. 10 policy unit, Policy Exchange, and the Centre for Policy Studies‘ Head of Policy. Also acted as policy lead on Kemi Badenoch’s Tory leadership campaign last year…
• Matthew Lesh – Also an IEA incumbent, currently Director of Public Policy and Communications. Previously the Head of Research at the Adam Smith Institute. A good media performer, with sound op-eds in the Telegraph, the Times, and the Spectator. Impressed his IEA colleagues enough to add the comms brief to his existing role as Director of Public Policy. Could he go for two promotions within six months?
• Liz Truss – Served a brief tenure as Prime Minister, was previously at the Reform think tank and is rumoured to fancy running one again. She is apocryphally the politician most hosted by the IEA, though Maggie might dispute that and her Energy Price Guarantee policy really didn’t sit well with the IEA. That probably hurts her chances more than being PM for all of ten minutes. 

The IEA are accepting applications now, so wonks should dust off their CVs…

N.B: The list above is not hierarchical. It is (mostly) arbitrary. Write that cover letter, Liz.

With the London mayoral election now less than a year away (!), second rate Tory hopefuls have started jockeying for position to take on incumbent Sadiq Khan. Guido presents an exhausted racecard.

Out of the gates in a flash, early frontrunner Samuel Kasumu was chomping at the bit to declare his candidacy and has claimed some thoroughbred backers, including Priti Patel, Grant Shapps and Steve Baker. As the former advisor to Boris Johnson nails his colours to the YIMBY mast:

“The Tories are in danger of turning our back on Thatcher’s legacy and our Party’s homeownership principles. It is vital for our future that we continue efforts to get more homes built.”

Time will tell if Kasumu has the stamina.

Next in line to the throne, Susan Hall, optimistically put her name forward to deliver the self-declared “common sense” pitch. Hall is a tough on crime trope, with a pledge to form a new Met Police unit focused on burglars, muggers and thieves. Susan wistfully reflected: 

“Not too long ago, London was a safer, happier and more tolerant city. It can be that again. If I am your candidate, we will get there.”

London’s silent majority?

Outside bet Nick Rogers is sculpting a ‘cool’ campaign that promises to “stand up for millennial Londoners”. The Conservative’s spokesman for transport in City Hall has promised a “manifesto for renters” and to axe ULEZ expansion. Former special constable Rogers has adopted the mantra: 

“Who better to stand up for millennial Londoners than a millennial Londoner?”

It’s bold, you’ve got to give it that.

‘Boff for London’ left the paddock and joined the pack today. Andrew Boff, London Assembly member since 2008 and former leader of the City Hall Conservatives, is running on a bumper manifesto to make London safer, scrap ULEZ expansion, restore local policing and build homes. Boffin, who ran his own IT support company, eloquently wrote:

“My promise to every London Conservative if they select me is to bring all levels of our Party together in my campaign, so we not only defeat Sadiq Khan but reconnect with people and communities across the capital, winning their trust and keeping it.”

Nawww… anyway, who’s next?

After teasing that he was “considering” and then “still considering” running, Paul Scully has put us out of our misery and entered the gladiatorial arena that is the Tory London Mayor race. The Minister for London is tipped as a favourite with odds sure to shorten at the bookies and is understood to be running on a ticket of housing, scrapping ULEZ expansion, and Met Police bolstering. Bingo!

One time No. 10 aide Daniel Korski is thought to be planning a bid, while Kit Malthouse has refused to deny a potential mayoral challenge. Other names floating around are Shaun Bailey, Justine Greening and Rob Rinder. 

Applications close May 24 when the list will be trimmed to 8 before being cut further by a committee to 2 or 3 candidates on 4 June. Voting then opens between 4 July and 18 July. First past the post!

UPDATE: Friend of Stephen Lawrence and former councillor, Duwayne Brooks has been in touch to say he is also in the running. Again.

UPDATE II: Dan Korski will formally launch his campaign at 9am on Tuesday, 16^th May.

Dominic Raab’s Civil Service-secured resignation this morning leaves big shoes to fill in the Ministry of Justice. As a big name Rishi-backer, with evident willingness to take on the blob, Rishi will want to get Raab’s replacement right. Here are some of the front-runners in any mini Ri-shuffle…

• Victoria Atkins – The Times reports that Rishi will look to opt for a woman, given the current gender imbalance in cabinet. Atkins is the current Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and she has experience in the MoJ from her previous role as Prisons Minister. A successful barrister she would love this demanding brief.
• Lucy Frazer – Another former Prisons Minister tipped by the Times, Frazer is the Culture Secretary. This would be the second cabinet promotion in two months for Lucy, who has also previously worked as Solicitor General and in Justice. She has a history of replacing Raab in the MoJ, having done so as Undersecretary of State in 2018.
• Victoria Prentis – is also a Rishi-loyalist lawyer with cabinet experience. Sunak made Prentis Attorney General in October.
• Alex Chalk – A self-described “rising star”, Chalk is the token male amongst the favourites for the role. He also has a strong background in the MoJ. Chalk would fit right in round Rishi’s cabinet table, having resigned as Boris’s Solicitor General in July.
• Ed Argar – Currently a Minister of State in Justice, alongside Damian Hinds, either could be an option if Rishi wants a speedy resolution.

Place your bets…

LBC’s longstanding Political Editor Theo Usherwood has announced he’s standing down for family reasons, leaving a gap at the top of the station’s news team. LBC has grown massively in the last few years, with Global willing to stump up serious cash for the likes of Andrew Marr, Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall. Not to mention the pocket change for David Lammy…

The question of who might replace Usherwood, or at least become the latest hack to join the Global roster on a lucrative contract, is already doing the rounds. An internal appointment is being considered. Guido hears Lewis Goodall was offered the role, although he’s turned it down because he’s much happier (and probably better remunerated) hosting the News Agents. Ben Kentish, considered a rising star and currently the station’s Westminster Editor, is also a potential candidate. Then there are the external options…

Kate Ferguson was reportedly in Global’s sights, although she only took on the Political Editor gig at the Sun on Sunday last summer. Martine Croxall, who presented her final BBC News bulletin last Friday, was spotted at the station’s Leicester Square headquarters recently – though she’s a newsreader, not a political reporter. She is, at least, looking for more work after being axed from the BBC News primary lineup. The biggest name Guido hears the top brass have an interest in, however, does have the requisite experience on the political beat. Sky’s Sam Coates was spotted by a co-conspirator in the Global offices this week, though when Guido called Sam he made it very clear he is not commenting… could he be after the big money broadcast / podcast package?