Oxford Professor Padel urged to resign

Ruth Padel should resign her professor of poetry post at England’s University of Oxford for leaking information on a former rival, a broadcaster says.

Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg said Padel should consider resigning her post over her disgraceful decision to leak information about sexual allegations against Nobel laureate Derek Walcott amid their battle for the Oxford post, The Sunday Times of London said.

After news of the allegations came out in the media, Walcott withdrew from competition for the 300-year-old prestigious post.

Even her mentioning Walcott’s past in advance of the election was disgraceful. She should now stand down from the post. A shame, but there it is. Bragg said.

Former Channel 4 chief executive Jeremy Isaacs agreed Padel should consider her position after she admitted this weekend she leaked the information.

She should consider her position, Isaacs said. I’m very upset to learn this.

The Times said Walcott faced separate allegations of sexual harassment at Harvard University and Boston University.