This week, I sat down with the Right Honourable Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC, or as she is known in Somerville, Jan. Jan has served as Principal of Somerville College for the past eight years, and has now come to the conclusion of her tenure. Jan has always been a figure of authority, having been appointed leader of the House of Lords in 2008, as well as chief whip and Privy Counsellor. As a proud Somervillian, I can attest that Jan has made this college welcoming and safe. I first met her in a one-on-one meeting – one of over a hundred that she held with every single incoming student (as she has done every year). Sitting in her office again this week, I was reminded of precisely how skillful Jan is at making all students, regardless of their background, feel instantly at home in college, and how she was the first person in Oxford to quiet my imposter syndrome. Somerville will miss her dearly. 

Lucy: How did you get into politics?

Jan: I had always been interested in politics – especially the Young European Left, but at 22, I met the man who would later become my husband. He was a labour councillor and worked for the Labour Party, and our views aligned, and so I joined the Labour Party. I was especially passionate about Europe. 

Lucy: Being Chief Whip is a complicated position, to say the least. What did you think of your time in that role?

Jan: I started attending Cabinet as Chief Whip of the House of Lords, so I was used to Cabinet by the time I became leader of the House of Lords. Being Chief Whip was really, really hard because the government was pursuing legislation on detention at the time, and it was hard having to do that as part of my job. The whipping system is much maligned, but it is an intrinsic part of our political system: it’s the only way legislation from the manifesto can be implemented. It’s slightly different in the Lords – it’s harder to place sanctions on people for not voting with the party.

Lucy: Tell me about your time as leader of the House of Lords.

Jan: It was quite a tense time. I was a huge supporter and admirer of Gordon Brown, but it was the time of the global economic crisis and the expenses scandal in the House of Commons, so it was all very difficult. We, of course, had our own trials and tribulations in the House of Lords. It was difficult but wonderful. I can’t quite believe I was sitting across the Cabinet table having discussions about these issues which were of such importance both to our country and to the world. I had great colleagues in the Cabinet. 

Leader of the House of Lords is a strange job: you’re there as leader of the Labour benches, with the primary task of getting government legislation through the House of Lords. But you’re also the leader of the whole House, so you have to represent the views of the House as a whole, not just your own or your party’s views. 

I found chairing meetings of the Privy Council very fascinating, but then I became Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I also liked that – whatever I do I like to get really involved – it mostly enables the leader of the House of Lords to be paid, but I actually went out and visited farms and other places in the Duchy, and found it all really fascinating. 

Lucy: Obviously the Royall Report was something very fundamental within Oxford, especially within Oxford University Labour Club (OULC). What was it like conducting that report?

Jan: There were various allegations about antisemitism in OULC, and I was asked to investigate these, which I did. I was very proud to be doing so: antisemitism is abhorrent. After a very proper process, the findings were that there was no institutional antisemitism, but there were questions about certain individuals. A positive outcome was that, as a consequence, the Labour Party said that all university Labour Clubs should have sensitivity training. 

I was then Vice-Chair of the Chakrabarti Inquiry into antisemitism in the UK Labour Party. It was difficult at the time – there were a lot of tensions – but it was a privilege for me because I made lots of contacts with Jewish organisations, such as the Community Security Trust and the Board of Deputies of British Jews. I forged links with a lot of Jewish people – I hadn’t really understood the plight of antisemitism or the reality of the lives of British Jews until then, even after a long career in politics, so it was really eye-opening. 

Lucy: What was your initial reaction to becoming Principal of Somerville? How did you anticipate it going when you started eight years ago?

Jan: Quite honestly, I didn’t know enough about it. I was approached and asked to apply for Principal, but I knew nothing about Somerville. But the more I found out about Somerville, the more I wanted to do it. I arrived knowing very little about the realities of both Somerville and Oxford, and the amazing complexities of this collegiate university. My prejudice was that it would be completely elitist, and it was a great joy to find that – in Somerville especially – this was not the case. As co-Chair and founder of the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership, I’ve been striving to break down any remaining barriers ever since – one of the things that struck me most was the divide between town and gown, and the disparities in wealth. 

Lucy: What has been the best thing about being Principal of Somerville?

Jan: The students – absolutely, the students. You know, you can see that education really does transform lives, and I see evidence of that, day after day after day, and it’s wonderful.

Lucy: How has Somerville – and Oxford – changed in your eight years here?

Jan: It’s changed a great deal. The number of young people who come from nontraditional backgrounds and disadvantaged backgrounds has increased. Somerville and the university as a whole have done a great job in reaching out to people who might not have had the confidence to apply to Oxford, but there’s still a long way to go, especially with postgraduates. When I arrived, my goal was to get intake to at least 70% from state schools, which then grew to a goal of 80%. Last year, 82% of our intake were from state schools. I really like the mix we have here at Somerville. It’s changed gradually in its diversity of students and gradually, it’s changing in its diversity of academics – although that’s a really long haul. I’m really glad for the new Equality and Diversity committee – one of the things they’re focusing on is increasing the diversity of academics. 

Lucy: What is your best memory here?

Jan: I’ve had such wonderful, wonderful times: I’ve just loved doing things and being around the students. I think that some of the celebrations of sanctuary we’ve had have been magical – hearing from our sanctuary scholars, and seeing people celebrating after their graduation, when that might have never been possible before. 

I also like some of the dinners we’ve held here: I love our Michaelmas dinners at the end of term, but one of the best occasions in Somerville is our annual Foundation Dinner. Seeing everyone dressed in red and black, a hall full of brilliant honorary fellows, brilliant academics and brilliant students, all proud to be Somervillians… It’s truly quite something. 

Lucy: What is your funniest memory here? 

Jan: I recently attended my first and last JCR bop. I absolutely loved it, but I think the picture of me bopping with students was very funny. 

Lucy: What is the thing you’re most proud of achieving in Somerville or Oxford?

Jan: Getting through COVID. That was quite something. I’m proud of the college, and all of my colleagues for getting through. 

Lucy: As you get ready to depart Somerville and Oxford, do you have a final message for the students of Oxford?

Jan: I say this to all of our students: as soon as you get to Oxford, you’re privileged. It doesn’t matter what your background is – you’re privileged, because the education here is so fantastic, and you also have an extraordinary network. Never forget that privilege, but be humble, and remember that that privilege makes you powerful. Use that power in a positive way.