Oxford University’s vice-chancellor says she is “embarrassed” Michael Gove studied at the institution following his comments during the Brexit campaign that people have “had enough of experts”.
Mr Gove made the remark three weeks before the UK voted to leave the European Union and received criticism for appearing to talk down the role of academics.
Professor Louise Richardson, Oxford’s vice-chancellor, said the development of Covid-19 vaccines, such as the one devised by the university in partnership with AstraZeneca, illustrates the importance of experts to public life.
Embarrassed
Speaking on a panel alongside vice-chancellors from across the world at Times Higher Education’s World Academic Summit, Ms Richardson said she was “embarrassed to confess we educated” Mr Gove.
She said: “Michael Gove, the British cabinet minister who I am embarrassed to confess we educated, famously said after it was pointed out to him by a journalist that all the experts opposed Brexit, he said: ‘Oh we’ve had enough of experts.’
“With the vaccine, it seems like the public can’t get enough of experts. Many of our scientists have become household names.
“We have demonstrated through the vaccine work and the development of therapeutics and so on just how much universities can contribute and that’s enormously helpful to our cause.”
Mr Gove, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, studied English at Lady Margaret Hall and was elected president of the Oxford Union debating society before graduating in 1988.
Consistently wrong
Speaking in 2016 when he was Lord Chancellor, Mr Gove said: “I think the people of this country have had enough of experts with organisations with acronyms saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently wrong.”
Scotland’s food and drink producers this week sounded the alarm at Holyrood over fears shoppers will struggle with shortages in the run up to Christmas partly as a result of Brexit – something Mr Gove expressly ruled out in 2019.
Michael Gove(Sept 2019) – "There will be no shortages of fresh food." 👀 pic.twitter.com/Wdwt1FXzab
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) August 11, 2021
MSPs were told on Wednesday that red tape and a lack of staff has hit a wide range of sectors, ruining crops and affecting supplies for restaurants, exporters and supermarkets.
Retailers warned a rise in prices and lack of HGV drivers will hit customers in the pocket directly.
Oxford has been approached for comment.