Valyes

Valyes was a Lord Cardinal of Gallifrey who was chosen by the High Council as acting Chancellor to replace Braxiatel, who had only been appointed to that position days earlier. (BFG: Insurgency)

Biography
As Chancellor, Valyes ran the Time Lord Academy. He soon revoked many of the privileges given off-worlders by his predecessor. He was deeply conservative and did not approve of President Romana's liberalisation of Gallifreyan society. Romana's Academy experiment fell apart under his stewardship, with bomb explosions killing numerous students, and the rest either evacuated or taken into protective custody.

During the Civil War he sided with the Imperiatrix Pandora and Inquisitor Darkel. Following the former's defeat by Romana II and Leela, he assumed the acting Presidency as the next highest ranking Time Lord. He explained his collaboration with Pandora as trying to bring her rule down from within her own circle. Valyes restored the High Council dismissed by Romana when she had declared herself Imperiatrix, and they called for a new Presidential election. As there was no Vice President, he made Lord Matthias Lord Cardinal with special security responsibilities, and resigned as Acting Lord President due to the machinations of Darkel, whom he attempted to name as his successor. Romana disputed the legality of his actions as she was still technically President. Matthias also claimed that as acting Chancellor he was Valyes' rightful successor.

During the election Valyes was the Lord High Returning Officer - another office he had acquired over the years - but his moment of glory was cut short by the return of Braxiatel, who claimed the Presidency for himself and named Lord Cardinal Matthias as his successor. Valyes then served as Lord Chancellor to President Matthias.

Personality
Valyes was a member of the old guard on Gallifrey and was very old fashioned and opposed to change. He proved himself to be easily manipulated by those more clever than him, especially Darkel, and he was also obsequious in the extreme. Valyes seemed to be a born politician who would use the law to suit his own purpose, however he appeared to have more faith in his own ability than others did, and this faith was misplaced.