A picture of Theresa May has been removed from the walls of her old geography department at Oxford University after left-wing students protested against it.

The portrait of the PM was unveiled on the 'Wall of Women' staircase last week as part of an exhibit that celebrates women who studied at the department and went on to be pioneers in their fields.

But it attracted protests from students who pinned up notes around it slamming her crackdown of illegal immigration while at the Home Office and the Windrush fiasco.

Students complained that she was a 'contentious figure in a department with many EU citizens and de-colonial scholars', and a group called 'NotAllGeographers' was set up to call for its removal.

Oxford University said the portrait was taken down to because it was being obscured by posters and will go back up in a way to protect it.

Students had stuck up post-it notes venting their fury at the decision to hang the PM's portrait on the wall and their opposition to her policies when she was Home Secretary

But within days of its unveiling, Theresa May's portrait had been removed from the wall after students slammed the decision to hang it there in the first place

Theresa May's portrait was hung on the staircase as part of the 'wall of women' exhibit celebrating the achievements of female former students. Below the PM is an image of Doreen Massey who teaches Marxist and feminist geography

Tory MP James Cleverly questioned the decision on Twitter, saying: 'Please tell me this story about you removing an alumna portrait of the Prime Minister isn't true. @oxfordgeography.'

While Mrs May's portrait sparked criticism and protests from students, the image just below her of the Marxist geographer Doreen Massey remained in place.

Ms Massey has worked as an adviser to the late Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, who cited her in his speeches.

Mrs May graduated with a second-class degree from St Hugh's College at Oxford University in 1977.

She was originally one of twelve female former students to feature in the display which was intended to 'aim to inspire the next generation of women geographers to aim high in their future careers'.

In a note alongside the picture, Mrs May – who studied at the university from 1974 to 1977 – said: 'I remember the School of Geography as a great place to meet, learn and enjoy finding out more about our world…

'A greater understanding of the diversity and complexity of our world and a respect for our environment, which I learnt in my degree, have stood me in good stead in my chosen career.'

Announcing the exhibit last week, Claire Hann, the School's Equality and Diversity Officer, said: 'The aim is to show that the achievements of the few selected women represent and are linked with the achievements of a much wider group of women geographers.

Tory MP James Cleverly was among those venting his opposition to the removal of the portrait online

Students who had been campaigning against the portrait hailed its removal on their Twitter account

Andrew Dwyer, a cyber security and geography PHD student, criticised Theresa May's portrait in a post on Twitter

'We're keen to celebrate the successes of our women students and staff as much as those of men.

'It's been great to reconnect with many of our past students through this project, and we hope it will inspire our current students as they pass by the display each day.'

On Friday students had stuck up pieces of paper around the picture, with a pen attached to a piece of string inviting others to 'share your thoughts'.

One student wrote next to the picture 'School of Geography or Hostile Environment', referring to Mrs May's approach to illegal immigration when she was Home Secretary.

How they snubbed Thatcher too Theresa May is not the only Tory prime minister to have faced issues over her legacy at Oxford. Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s only other female PM, has also been snubbed by the university. She was passed over for an honorary degree following protests by embittered academics over cuts to university funding. It meant she was the only Oxford-educated PM not to have been given an honorary degree. Mrs Thatcher received an invitation to allow her name to go forward for the degree in 1985, with the proviso that it had to be confirmed ‘in Congregation’ – a vote taken among all the university’s academics. Her principal private secretary, Robin Butler, warned her that ‘Left-wingers will campaign against you before the vote’. Against his advice Mrs Thatcher wrote a letter of acceptance. However, her aide – now Lord Butler – was right. The Congregation rejected the honour by 738 votes to 319. Mrs Thatcher’s only public reaction was succinct. She said: ‘If they do not wish to confer the honour, I am the last person who would wish to receive it.’ But Mr Butler thought the snub deeply affected Mrs Thatcher. He felt that privately, ‘the degree of hurt was huge’. Advertisement

One student wrote: 'School of Geography and (Hostile????) Environment' [sic], while another message said: 'Let in every refugee, throw the Tories in the sea.'

Andrew Dwyer, a cyber security and geography PHD student, wrote on social media: '(Not so) Great to see Theresa May placed alongside Doreen Massey in [the School of Geography], apparently one of the best alumnae we have.

'I don't really wish to celebrate a hostile environment for immigrants, if I'm honest.'

Number 10 declined to respond to questions about the removal of the portrait.

An Oxford University spokesman said: 'The portrait was being increasingly obscured by posters bearing mainly humorous satirical messages.

'It has now been taken down and will be re- displayed so it can be seen as intended. Mrs May was included in a series of portraits to celebrate outstanding female graduates of the School of Geography and the Environment.

'We remain proud of her success and that of all the graduates celebrated in the display.'