Molyneaux's law point

The Ulster Unionist leader James Molyneaux has rejected an honorary doctorate in law from Queen's University, Belfast, in protest at the scrapping of the National Anthem at graduation ceremonies, writes David McKittrick.

Mr Molyneaux was recently offered the doctorate, which he would have received in the summer, but wrote back to turn it down. He did so two weeks after the university senate announced it was to replace "God Save The Queen" at ceremonies with the European anthem, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy". It also decided that the RUC band should no longer be the sole entertainment at garden parties.

An Ulster Unionist spokesman said last night that Mr Molyneaux had rejected the offer because of those decisions. Queen's recently promised to pay more attention to nationalist sensibilities.