Freud named as St Andrews rector

St Andrews is Scotland's oldest university

A former Liberal MP has been elected as the new rector of St Andrews University for a three-year term.

Sir Clement Freud secured the post on Friday to succeed broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil as rector at Scotland's oldest university.

The 78-year-old polled more than 50% of the votes cast, defeating feminist Professor Germaine Greer and 27-year-old postgraduate student Barry Joss.

In one of the highest rector election turn-outs for many years, a total of 1901 votes were cast.

Sir Clement has been rector at Dundee Uni

There were nine spoilt papers and Sir Clement polled 992 votes with Ms Greer in second place on 595.

Barry Joss finished with a creditable 305 votes in third.

Sir Clement, who completed two three-year terms as rector at Dundee University from 1974-80, conducted a high profile campaign, with several visits to the town to speak to students over recent weeks.

The rector is a post unique to Scotland's ancient universities.

Previous holders at St Andrews include Sir Douglas Haig, Rudyard Kipling, Lord Boothby and, in more recent times, John Cleese, Frank Muir and Tim BrookeTaylor.