Anger at degree for archbishop

Archbishop of Glasgow Mario Conti is to receive an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow later this year to recognise his "significant contribution" to the institution.

But student leaders said bestowing the award on a man accused of homophobia "makes a mockery" of the university's focus on equality and diversity.

Laura Laws, president of the university's Students Representative Council (SRC), said: "By celebrating the archbishop's work without caveat, the university condones everything he has done in office, including his notorious discrimination against a huge section of our society.

"By aligning themselves with the archbishop, the university runs the risk of isolating many students and staff."

The SRC said failing to award the degree in this instance might have been seen as a "snub", given that previous archbishops of Glasgow have been awarded honorary degrees by the university.

The university said Archbishop Conti would receive the honorary degree for his contribution to the university through his support of the Catholic chaplaincy and the faculty of education and the development of inter-faith relations.