‘Anti-woke’ university vice-chancellor suspended after ‘serious allegations’ by estranged wife

A university vice-chancellor with strong “anti-woke views” was given the chop due to allegations of a secret love affair with an overseas student, it has emerged.

Professor James Tooley, 65, vice-chancellor of Buckingham University, claimed that his sudden suspension in October amid “serious allegations” was down to his beliefs about free speech.

His supporters said that he faced internal opposition at the UK’s leading private university when he championed academics who had been cancelled at other institutions.

The 65-year-old has been barred from working whilst an enquiry into the allegations takes place, 4,000 students and staff were told via email.

It has now been revealed that Tooley was suspended due to claims made by his estranged wife, Cynthia, 42.

She said that Tooley had an affair with a young woman in her 20s from India, whose student fees he helped to pay, The Times has reported.

Cynthia handed over diaries which belonged to the woman to the institution, which was co-founded by Margaert Thatcher in 1973.

The entrees said Tooley and the woman first met when she was 18 and he was in his fifties and working in Hyderabad, India.

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She claims that the relationship first turned sexual when she was 21, though later revised this to the age of 25.

Tooley is said to have known the woman’s father and donated to her university fees. His friends say that the relationship became sexual when she graduated.

Speaking to the publication, the woman, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: “Anyone who reads my diaries can see I was in love with him and wanted to be with him.

“He was kind and thoughtful and always treated me with respect. People will say he used me because he has power and money. But that’s not the case. He is a good man who cares a lot about other people.”

She said that the relationship ended around 2019. The 65-year-old has denied the claims.

The university was alerted to the claims on October 11. Joseph O’Brien KC, senior counsel, has been appointed to investigate the allegations, with findings expected to be given before Christmas.

A friend of the 65-year-old said that the claims made by his wife were being exploited by others at the university to try and get him dismissed.

“This was a long-term, loving relationship with someone who is still a close friend to this day,” said the friend.

“It is a private matter and none of the university’s business. For a cabal there to try to force him out over it, when they really want him out because he is the anti-woke vice-chancellor, is shameful. They are destroying the university’s reputation”.

The professor has spoken out against cancel culture and is a staunch free speech advocate.

Earlier this year, he unveiled a new course on the “woke” movement, which he said was inspired by Thatcher.

He added: “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.”