Union calls for new uni leadership after boss sacked

Trade union members at the University of Greater Manchester have staged a protest demanding "greater transparency" following the sacking of the former vice chancellor professor George Holmes.

Unison members at the institution in Bolton said the current board of governors should step aside, arguing the university can only move on with a "clean slate".

Holmes was suspended after the university commissioned an independent inquiry into allegations of financial mismanagement and other misconduct.

A university spokesperson said it "took the time to talk to staff members and listen to concerns raised" at the protest.

Unison representative Paul Chanin, said: "The current board of governors, who were around when George Holmes was around, need to look at themselves, to understand whether they should be remaining in post."

Holmes had been in post for 20 years before he was suspended following an independent inquiry into allegations raised in an investigation by The Mill in 2025.

The protest took place on Thursday and Chanin, who is chair of the Bolton branch of Unison, called for new leadership from outside the university.

"Bringing someone external in means they can come in with a fresh pair of eyes," he said.

"They are independent from any historical allegations and can do a root-and-branch investigation of all the procedures that need to be improved."

A Unison spokesman said the union had also called for a meeting with the current board of governors to discuss the situation but this was rejected, and warned of further protests until such a meeting was arranged.

Unison has also asked for details of an independent inquiry, commissioned by the university and carried out by Price Waterhouse Cooper, to be released.

This report led the university to suspend Holmes and Greater Manchester Police launched an investigation into "serious allegations of fraud and bribery".

Two men in their 60s and a woman in her 50s were also arrested on suspicion of money laundering, while both men were questioned on suspicion of fraud, and one on suspicion of bribery.

The university spokesman said: "Significant progress regarding a review of university governance processes has been made in recent weeks."

Several trustees were coming to the end of their term of office over the next few months and so there would be a major refresh of the board of governors by 2027, he added.

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