Donald Trump was stripped of his honorary degree from Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University last night – amid a growing clamour for him to be barred from entering the UK.
Nicola Sturgeon also withdrew the tycoon’s membership of the GlobalScot network, on the grounds he is “no longer fit” to be a business ambassador for Scotland.
The dramatic developments unfolded as it emerged more than 300,000 people had signed a petition on the Westminster Parliament website calling for the US presidential hopeful to be blocked from coming to Britain.
But a defiant Mr Trump went on the attack against his critics, telling the UK politicians they should be “thanking me instead of pandering to political correctness”.
He also pointed to his investment at Trump International Golf Links, Scotland in Aberdeenshire, the Turnberry Resort and the Ailsa course at the Royal & Ancient in St Andrews.
More than 70,000 people had signed a separate petition urging RGU to revoke Mr Trump’s honorary DBA, awarded in 2010 in recognition of his achievements as an entrepreneur and businessman.
At the time, the honour prompted former principal David Kennedy, who oversaw the seat of learning’s elevation to university status, to hand back his own accolade.
He accused RGU of making the gesture to secure donations and walked through the main campus entrance carrying his certificate with the words “not wanted” written across it.
An RGU spokesman confirmed last night it had decided to rescind the honour on the basis Mr Trump’s statements were “incompatible” with its ethos and values.
RGU student president Edward Pollock said he was “very proud” of the university, adding: “Personally, I was very appalled by the things Mr Trump has said.”
The decision was widely welcomed last night, with SNP Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart commending current principal Ferdinand von Prondzynski.
He also applauded the first minister’s action, adding: “I hope that these decisions will show Mr Trump that his behaviour is an anathema in modern Scotland.”
Maggie Chapman, co-convener of the Scottish Greens and rector of Aberdeen University, said RGU had done “exactly the right thing”.
She said: “We have to stand up against that sort of behaviour.
“Scotland prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive country, and if we honour people who are so clearly anti-Moslem we need to stand up against that in any way we can.”
Trish Murray, campaigner at 38 Degrees which was behind the petition, heralded the “great victory for people power”.
She added: “Honours like this legitimise hate speech. Britain has just sent a clear message to Donald Trump – we won’t stand by your hateful views.”
A spokesman for Aberdeen Muslims, an organisation composed of members of the Granite City’s approximately 5,000-strong Moslem community, called the decision “brave”.
He added: “I hope this will get the ball rolling for other organisations to follow suit and let Mr Trump know what we really think of him.”
Meanwhile, there were fresh calls in the Commons chamber during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday for Mr Trump to be barred from the UK.
SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh pressed George Osborne to back a ban as he stood in for David Cameron at the Despatch Box.
She said: “I understand that the home secretary has banned 84 hate preachers from entering the UK. Will the government lead by example and consider making Donald Trump the 85th?”
The chancellor said Mr Trump’s views “fly in the face of the founding principles of the US” which had proved such an inspiration to so many.
But the Tory frontbencher insisted the best way to challenge the businessman was to engage in “robust and democratic” argument “rather than trying to ban presidential candidates”.
Having exceeded six-figure support, the petition on the UK Parliament website should now be debated by MPs unless deemed “unsuitable” by the Commons petitions committee.
North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald has also tabled a motion at the Scottish Parliament condemning Mr Trump’s claim there should be a “total and complete shutdown” of Moslems entering the US.
It welcomes the steps taken to make clear the comments, made in the wake of last week’s terror attack in California, are rejected by the Scottish people.
Confirming his removal from GlobalScot, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Mr Trump’s recent remarks have shown that he is no longer fit to be a business ambassador for Scotland.
“The first minister has decided his membership of the respected GlobalScot business network should be withdrawn with immediate effect.”
Earlier in the week, Mr Cameron branded Mr Trump’s comments “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”.
But Downing Street has so far declined to say whether they might lead to him being barred from entry to the UK under hate-speech laws.
Reacting to Mr Trump’s comments about Islamist radicalisation in the English capital, London Mayor Boris Johnson called him “unfit” to be US president.
The New York-based businessman, who is seeking the Republican nomination, claimed parts of London were “so radicalised” police were “afraid for their own lives”.