Britain’s oldest literary prize at risk of being cancelled for the first time ever

Britain's longest-running literary prize is at risk of being cancelled for the first time in its century of existence as industrial action over staff wage cuts grips Edinburgh University.

For more than 100 years, scholars and students at the Scottish university have awarded writers with the prestigious James Tait Black Prize.

Established in 1919 by the widow of publisher James Tait Black, the award has previously honoured literary giants such as DH Lawrence, Evelyn Waugh and Zadie Smith – carrying a £10,000 award for the winner.

However, an ongoing dispute between university staff and management over sweeping budget reductions has cast doubt on whether this year's ceremony will go ahead.

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The start of the month saw the commencement of a marking and assessment boycott that disrupted operations across the university, with Hannah Boast, one of the prize's chief judges, at the centre of the dispute.

The university has stopped her entire salary as a consequence of her participation in the boycott.

She told The Scotsman: "The university is currently withholding 100 per cent of my pay for participating in a marking and assessment boycott. So, at present, there will be no prize."

Ms Boast described the action as a final attempt to prevent compulsory redundancies.

"They want to save £92million in salary costs out of a total £140million cuts programme, all unnecessary at one of the richest universities in the sector," she added.

The University and College Union estimates approximately 1,800 positions could be terminated under the budget cuts.

Academics and postgraduate students had already put forward their nominations, with winners originally scheduled to be revealed this month.

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The fiction shortlist features Vivek Shanbhag's Sakina's Kiss, Nell Stevens's The Original, Claire-Louise Bennett's Big Kiss, Bye-Bye, Jackie Ess's Darryl and Shady Lewis's On the Greenwich Line.

Edinburgh University stated it was working to ensure the awards proceed amid the debacle.

A spokesman said: "While we respect the right of our staff to take part in industrial action, we will work to minimise disruption and support the prizes to go ahead as intended."

In spite of the backlash, the university maintains the cuts are necessary.

Vice-principal Sir Peter Mathieson wrote to staff last month, emphasising while Scottish higher education funding requires review, immediate cost reductions were essential.

He said: "Our accounts show that costs are rising faster than our income. We have acted swiftly and decisively, with a carefully planned approach that will deliver the recurrent savings required, while seeking to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible."

The £140million savings target, to be achieved over 18 months, amounts to roughly 10 per cent of the university's yearly revenue.

Staff have pledged to continue rolling strikes as negotiations remain at a standsill.

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