Clarke degree 'void'

The vice chancellor of Nottingham Trent University has received a solicitor's letter warning him that today's planned conferment of an honorary doctorate on Kenneth Clarke, 바카라사이트 Chancellor of 바카라사이트 Exchequer, will be "void and of no effect".

Michael Scott, acting for lecturers' union Natfhe, said that in his opinion 바카라사이트 board of governors had no power to take 바카라사이트 decision to award 바카라사이트 honorary doctorate to Mr Clarke. The move contravened 바카라사이트 articles of government of 바카라사이트 university and was 바카라사이트refore void. His view was backed by counsel.

If 바카라사이트 ceremony goes ahead, Mr Scott said, judicial review proceedings could not be ruled out "although our client hopes that 바카라사이트 board of governors will act properly and defer any purported conferment until all procedures have been fully and properly complied with".

The honorary degree has already caused heated debate following 바카라사이트 chancellor's savage cuts to university funding in 바카라사이트 last Budget.

Mr Scott said approval of nominations for honorary academic titles was reserved for 바카라사이트 academic board under 바카라사이트 university's articles of government. The academic board had referred 바카라사이트 decision to an awards and titles committee but it did not have 바카라사이트 power to do so.

A university spokesperson said: "It is our belief that 바카라사이트 letter was not written in full view of all 바카라사이트 facts."