FEMINISTS have called for controversial journalist Milo Yiannopoulos to be removed from contention for the role of Glasgow University rector, lest he "bring shame" on the institution.

Yiannopoulos, who is known as a key figure in the so-called 'alt right' movement, is one of 12 names put forward by students at the university to replace the current rector, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. 

Glasgow University's Feminist Society are calling for the commentator and Professor Jordan Peterson - a clinical psychology professor widely known for his views against genderless pronouns - to have their candidacy revoked.

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In a statement to The Evening Times, a spokesperson for the society said: "GU Femsoc originally called for a complete boycott of the rectorial elections, but after considered discussion and outreach with other groups, decided on a revocation of this and instead to focus efforts on positioning the university to remove both Milo and Jordan Peterson.

"We firmly believe both of these candidates violate standards of equality and diversity, and that their allowance on the ballot brings shame to our University.

"We ask others to consider handing their vote to another, more worthy candidate and continue to lobby the university along with us, through signing the petition we created and making their discontent heard."

The petition calling for the pair's removal has already garnered 2995 signatures.

However a Facebook page campaigning for Yiannopoulos to be elected rector currently sits at 2986 'likes'.

A post on the page reads: "The overblown reaction from the wider Glasgow Uni community over the last 24 hours prove why Milo needs to be the University’s Rector.

"The intolerant, authoritarian silence-everyone-who-disagrees-with-me attitude of these people is dangerous to our University, to our society, and frankly to our lives.

"Many of us, wary about the regressive left and its increasingly intolerant and violent actions, were afraid to even nominate him – precisely for the backlash that we are seeing now.

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"And the irony is that the despicable authoritarian regressive left are first in line to defend allegedly marginalised groups who suffer from similar attacks, but gladly participate in the same bullying when the tables have turned.

"We need Milo to defend free speech on Glasgow Uni campus. Vote Milo for Rector!"