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RCGP to re-run chair election with original two candidates

Exclusive The RCGP will re-run the election for its next chair with the same two candidates, after a reversing a previous decision in February to appoint Dr Maureen Baker due to a ‘technical error’.

Pulse can reveal that Dr Maureen Baker and Dr Steve Mowle have put themselves forward for election as RCGP chair.

The same two RCGP council members stood put themselves forward to succeed current chair Dr Clare Gerada in February but Dr Mowle was declared ‘ineligible to stand for election’ by chief executive Neil Hunt.

At the time, Dr Baker was appointed chair-elect, but RCGP council said it would run the election ‘in the interests of democracy’. Dr Baker said at the time that the decision to re-run the election was ‘highly regrettable’.

Mr Hunt sent a letter to all RCGP Council members on 21 February saying that Dr Mowle did not ‘satisfy the specified requirements for achieving formal nomination’ and declaring that Dr Baker was therefore automatically elected chair elect ‘in accordance with the college’s byelaws and governance structure’.

The college ran the nominations process again in March and the same two candidates put themselves forward with no further nominees, the RCGP confirmed.

The result of the election - voted on RCGP Council members - will be announced at the Spring general meeting of the RCGP on 17 May and the winning candidate will replace Dr Gerada in November.

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