The Blog fell silent these last four days because I have been at Dundee University for graduation, in my capacity as Rector. Graduation is done very pleasantly at Dundee, with each new graduate walking up individually to be touched on the head by the Chancellor with a ceremonial bonnet, to general applause plus whoops from [...]

A date for your diaries. My Installation as Rector of the University of Dundee will take place on 26 September. This is an ancient traditional ceremony, which includes my being pulled through the streets of Dundee in an old carriage by students, and then giving a Rectorial Address. These used to be great occasions, when [...]

Stephen Fry and I both attended the Paston School in North Walsham, Norfolk, a local state Grammar. I gather from his autobiography, Moab is My Washpot, that he disliked it a lot, as did I. It appears that we were not just at the same school, but in the same year and class. How astonishing [...]

I had been more than a little disconcerted by what I discovered of the administration of Dundee University since I became Rector two months ago. In particular, at my first University Court meeting, held the first working day after I took office, the University administration forced through the closure of undergraduate teaching in modern languages [...]

It has been a very hectic few days, but they have been productive. I seem to have helped convince the mainstream media of the obvious truth that the maritime boundaries in this part of the Gulf are disputed and fuzzy, and that the real situation is much less clear than the British map. The BBC [...]

The Scotsman 7 March 2007 Special Branch to badge up after campus spying claims KEVIN SCHOFIELD EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT (kschofield@scotsman.com) SPECIAL Branch officers last night said they would wear badges identifying themselves if they visit a university campus in future, after they were accused of “spying” on students. Craig Murray, the former diplomat who last month [...]

An article from today’s Scotsman (posted above). The Special Branch admit that they were at the Fresher’s Fair, incognito, but deny that they were spying on students. They have failed however to provide any alternative explanation of why they were there. Reliving their student past? Hoping to gatecrash a free gig?

Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan and critic of the ‘war on terror’, was elected last week as the rector of the University of Dundee. For more go here

By Graeme Cleland in the Dundee Courier One of the leading candidates to become Dundee University rector has heavily criticised proposed cuts to the institution’s staff and courses to claw back a ’1.6 million defecit. Craig Murray, former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, has spoken out againt the plant that could see town planning and modern [...]