Aamer Anwar to stand for Glasgow University rectorship

Solicitor Aamer Anwar has announced he is in the running to become Glasgow University’s next rector.

Nominations close on March 3, with elections on March 20 and 21.

Should he win, he will replace Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor who leaked thousands of classified documents in 2013, revealing details of American and British surveillances regimes. He fled to Russia, where he now lives in exile.

Mr Anwar has taken on a number of high profile cases during his career, including on behalf of the families of Sheku Bayoh, a man who died in police custody and Surjit Singh Chhokar, whose murderer, Ronnie Coulter, was convicted last year under double jeopardy rules.

He said: “I’m honoured to be nominated for Rector of Glasgow University. Glasgow’s students deserve a working rector who’ll stand up for their interests – campaigning for more affordable student housing, better access to mental health counselling services and to protect the status of EU students and staff.

“I’m looking forward to speaking to students over the coming weeks about how as a working rector I can help make their voices heard, and ensure that Glasgow remains a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their race, nationality, sexuality or gender.”