University of Kent revokes honorary degree from disgraced ex-professor David Starkey

Image from Reasoned/YouTube

The University has announced it will be beginning formal proceedings to revoke ex-professor David Starkey’s honorary degree.

The Tudor History Professor, who used to teach at the University of Kent, reached national attention after making several racist and discriminatory comments in an interview with conservative journalist Darren Grimes.

A University spokesperson said: “we have triggered the honorary degrees revocation procedure.

“The University of Kent is proud of its diverse community and does not and will not tolerate any form of racism, prejudice or discrimination.”

The 75-year-old historian and academic was previously awarded an honorary degree by The University of Kent in 2006 and held a position as an honorary visiting professor until 2015.

The University has also rebuked comments made by David Starkey during the interview, in which he claimed “slavery was not genocide” as “so many damn blacks live in Africa and Britain”.

The remarks were made during an online interview published to YouTube video titled ‘Dr David Starkey: Black Lives Matter Aims to Delegitimate British History’.

Grimes failed to challenge Starkey throughout the interview, who also claimed the Black Lives Matter protests had been characterised by “victimhood” and “violence”, describing the pulling down of statues as “deranged”.

Starkey has also resigned from his honorary fellowship at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, while Lancaster University has said that it has “initiated a review of his status as an honorary graduate”, after calling his comments “abhorrent and contrary to our values”.

Canterbury Christ Church University has also condemned Starkey’s comments, announcing that it had ended Dr Starkey’s role as a Professor of History at the institution.

Former chancellor Sajid Javid also criticised Starkey’s comments, and said: “they are a reminder of the appalling views that still exist”.