Newcastle University’s motto is “I look ahead” but its own failure to do so when it appointed coal firm chief Mark Vaile as its next chancellor has resulted in the resignation of a second council member, a ban on donations from high-profile philanthropists and a spate of student protests.

Eileen Doyle on Wednesday became the second member of the university council to resign, less than two weeks after Mr Vaile’s position as the next chancellor was made public.