The University of Oxford has insisted staff can make up their own minds about whether to stand for election after it emerged that the head of its immigration team stood as a Reform UK candidate for the local council.

James Baker, who heads the staff immigration unit at the top-ranked university, polled fourth in the ward of Littlemore last week.

He gained 210 votes and finished fourth behind a Green, an independent and a Labour candidate, with the last, Tiago Corais, securing 726 votes to win the seat on Oxford City Council, despite the dismal showing of his party nationally.

Baker’s team advises Oxford’s international academics on the visa options open to them, such as the Global Talent and Skilled Worker visas.

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It also provides “bespoke advice” on how to stay in the country permanently for staff, visitors and their dependants, according to the university’s website.

Baker’s participation in the election has raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, according to the local news site the 

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Reform has consistently campaigned on a platform of reducing immigration, and during the election announced it would abolish the right to permanent settlement in the UK after five years and raise salary thresholds for migrants to qualify for visas.

It also wants to prevent foreign nationals from accessing student loans and introduce a new rule dictating that only “international students with essential skills can remain in the UK when their study ends”.

Academics have warned that such policies could harm UK universities’ ability to attract global talent.

Oxford has one of the highest proportions of academic staff from outside the UK of any university in the country, at 48 per cent.

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The university, however, defended the right of its staff to stand in elections in a personal capacity.

A statement said: “Oxford University staff are entitled to participate in civic and political life in a personal capacity, including standing for elected office.

“The university respects that right and does not comment on the political activities of individual employees. The university has established processes to support staff who undertake activities outside their university role.”

Baker was contacted for comment. 

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com