The ‘bonfire of politicians’ from last year’s Power List means that Muscatelli makes a dramatic jump this year to be our second highest-placed vice chancellor. Muscatelli’s position owes itself to his influence in Scotland as Principal of the University of Glasgow and chair of Nicola Sturgeon’s advisory group on Brexit. But he has now also taken up an additional UK-wide role as chair of the Russell Group, meaning his influence will now extend down to Westminster as head lobbyist for the most prestigious and research intensive universities in the land.
Muscatelli is politically savvy, with a professional background as an economist he was once a special adviser on monetary policy to the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee. In Scotland, Glasgow is said to hold more influence with the SNP government, educating a larger number and proportion of Scottish students than its ancient counterparts. The Scottish sector has strongly aligned itself with the SNP on matters European since the referendum, but still remains firmly at the beck and call of government due to free tuition and recent reforms to universities’ governance. Muscatelli is a vital go-between the government and Scottish universities when the lines between ministerial wishes and institutional autonomy become blurry.