The woman whose resignation from Newcastle University’s council triggered the departure of Mark Vaile as chancellor before he even stepped into the role has been reappointed as a council member.

Jennifer Martin has been re-elected to the vacancy on the council that was created in June when she resigned. Her high-profile departure was in protest over the announcement that Mr Vaile, the chairman of Whitehaven Coal and a former deputy prime minister, was to replace Paul Jeans as the university’s next chancellor.