The Financial Tutor of Robinson College has called for Cambridge Vice-Chancellor (VC) Leszek Borysiewicz to resign his position following the result of the EU referendum last week.

The suggestion came in an email addressed to Robinson Warden David Yates, which was seemingly accidentally sent to the college’s undergraduate and graduate mailing lists. Yates had sent a copy of Borysiewicz’s recent statement on the referendum result, to which Reavley responded.

In the email, sent at 6:32pm on Tuesday, Reavley said: “this is the third time the VC has written about the implications of the referendum and I think it is now clear that he is no longer the man for the job”.

Reavley made assertions about the opportunities that he believed Britain leaving the European Union could present for the University of Cambridge.

“Now is not the time to be talking to the University about maintaining the status quo”, he wrote. “Now is the time to be reminding us all that Cambridge is already a global player with a world reputation and is better placed than most to take full benefit from the geopolitical changes that the referendum is clearly ushering in.”  

“Brexit creates opportunities as much as it creates problems and in that environment, with its cost base significantly cheaper if sterling's current slump is maintained, Cambridge is well-placed to pick up both additional research work and additional students.”

He wrote that “For an institution with the track record and the deep pockets of Cambridge, the current period of major uncertainty is a great time in which to steal a march on our weaker rivals and be out front when the dust finally does settle”.

He concluded by re-emphasising his view that Borysiewicz should step down.

“Leadership is about inspiration for the future. The Prime Minister and now the Chancellor have the insight to realise that they have neither the credibility nor the appetite to fight in the new world order. On the evidence of his public statements since the vote, the VC needs to realise the same”.

Half an hour later, another email was sent through to members of the mailing lists by David Yates, apologising for Reavley’s remarks.

Addressed to the students of Robinson, it said: “You will have been copied on a message sent by one of our Fellows that contained criticism of the Vice-Chancellor and his message that was intended to reassure members of the University, as well as those future members of the University who are expecting to arrive here shortly. There are students and colleagues who are understandably feeling somewhat insecure in the current environment.”

“I sure [sic] that the Fellow concerned in responding to the Vice-Chancellor’s message had no intention of enhancing any feelings of insecurity“ it continued, “nor did he intend to involve the student members of the College in this expression of his views which, I am confident, do not represent the views of the College Fellowship as a whole. I am sorry you have become involved in this. I urge you to simply to read the Vice-Chancellor’s message and refrain from becoming involved in an expression of view that is unlikely to carry credence in the College as a whole.”

In Borysiewicz’s original statement, the VC stated “even though the referendum result was in favour of leaving the European Union, there is no immediate change to the University's teaching, research and other activities. We will continue to work as normal”.

Borysiewicz said he was “disappointed” following the result last Friday. He was a vocal campaigner for a Remain vote throughout the referendum campaign, making several public speeches and appearances in support of Britain’s continued membership of the EU.