The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham has had his claims of being targeted for his 'anti-woke' views rejected by an independent inquiry. The investigation, led by Joseph O'Brien KC, found Professor James Tooley's allegations "wholly without merit", concluding that his suspension was not a politically motivated campaign against him.
Professor Tooley, known for his outspoken stance on free speech and opposition to 'cancel culture' and 'wokeism', had been suspended for nearly four months. During this period, two separate investigations were conducted by Mr O'Brien KC. The first probe addressed allegations concerning Professor Tooley's relationship with a young woman in India, which was ultimately found to be unsubstantiated. Following the receipt of this report, the university council unanimously agreed there were no grounds for dismissal, leading to Professor Tooley's reinstatement.
The second investigation focused specifically on Professor Tooley's grievance that the decision to suspend him was a politically motivated campaign. Allies of Professor Tooley had suggested he was the victim of a "witch-hunt" or a "cabal" within the university's governing body, motivated by opposition to his 'anti-woke' stance. These claims were explicitly rejected by Mr O'Brien KC's findings.
Mark Qualter, Chair of the University of Buckingham's council, described media coverage as "unhelpful" and "unsettling", stating that there was a narrative suggesting a conspiracy to remove the vice-chancellor led by a ‘cabal’ opposed to his political positions. However, he clarified that this grievance was independently investigated and found to be without merit.
A lawyer representing Professor Tooley indicated a different perspective, maintaining that Professor Tooley "was indeed targeted because of his political beliefs" and describing his suspension as a politically motivated "attempted coup". This divergence of opinion suggests potential ongoing tensions within the university following Professor Tooley's return to campus.