University of Manchester - Eagleton loses retirement appeal

Literary critic Terry Eagleton has left his post as lecturer in English literature at the University of Manchester after losing an appeal to remain past his retirement date.

The lecturer was quoted last week in the Manchester Evening News saying that he had been offered a pension boost if he dropped his grievances against the university. As Professor Eagleton had reached the university's official retirement age of 65, he was asked to leave by the end of July. The professor said he was a year short on his pension payments and that the university had offered to make this up if he renounced all grievances, which he said was "inappropriate". He is still considering legal action, he said. A University of Manchester spokesman said: "July 31 marked Professor Terry Eagleton's normal contractual retirement date at 65 and he is no longer employed at the university."