Oxford's champion hangs up gown and heads for the Bar

Pandora piece by Guy Adams, The Independent, 7th October 2004

There is an intriguing footnote to Michael Beloff's cavalier speech about the future of Oxford University earlier this week. The renowned QC, who said government ministers should "get their tanks off Oxford's lawns," has decided to step down after 10 years as President of Trinity College.

In a move that will intrigue political gossips - Beloff is a friend of Tony Blair, and an acquaintance of every Lord Chancellor since Lord Hailsham - he's also writing a book for Oxford University Press called The Last of the Lord Chancellors. "It was always my intention to take the College through its 450th anniversary, which is next year," Beloff tells me. "Then I'm going to hang up my academic gown, and intend to resume more fully my career at the Bar. By then I'll also be the senior appeal judge in the Channel Islands."

His decision to retire will provoke a scramble for succession, beginning when Trinity advertises for a new President later this month. Current bookies' favourite is the former Times editor, Peter Stothard, an alumnus and now honorary fellow of the College.

"Peter has been suggested," adds Beloff. "But it is really up to him whether he wants to stand. The Heads of Colleges come from so many different backgrounds, it isn't really for me to speculate."