There were five nominations for the Rectorial contest but by the time Newsletter went to press the field had reduced to four. Mr Ian Hislop, the editor of Private Eye , withdrew, telling his supporters he does not wish to stand against one of the other candidates, Professor Al-Mass'ari. The election will be held on 28 February and the result declared that evening. All matriculated students at the University are entitled to vote.
Voting is by the single transferable vote system.
At the last election in 1993 there were eight candidates. The runners-up were the QC Helena Kennedy, and the writer Liz Lochhead.