University of Glasgow Rectorial Election, 1996

The 1996 election for Rector of the University of Glasgow was held on February 28, 1996. In all five candidates were nominated for the post. The sitting Rector, Johnny Ball was nominated for re-election and the actor Richard Wilson was the nominee of the Glasgow University Labour Club. The Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association nominated Dorothy-Grace Elder, whilst the candidacy of Professor Muhammad Al-Mass'ari was supported by the university Liberal Democrat society as well as the then Labour MP for the area covering the university, George Galloway. Ian Hislop, the editor of the satirical magazine Private Eye withdrew from the race, informing his supporters that he did not wish to oppose Al-Mass'ari, a Saudi dissident who was then fighting government attempts to deport him.

Richard Wilson won the contest.

[edit] Result

Candidate	1st Count	2nd Count	3rd Count
Richard Wilson	1,535	?	1,912 (elected)
Johnny Ball	1,221	?	1,483
Dorothy-Grace Elder	446	?	n/a
Muhammad Al-Mass'ari	280	n/a	n/a