OUTRAGE has greeted the news that British journalist Milo Yiannopoulos has been nominated to be Glasgow University's next rector.

A petition to remove Yiannopoulos, who is known as a key figure in the so-called 'alt-right' movement, has already garnered more than 1000 signatures, while students and staff have taken to social media to condemn his nomination.

Yiannopoulos caused controversy when comments he made alleging sexual relationships between younger boys and adults could be 'consensual' came to light last month. He went on to apologise for the comments, before resigning from his job as an editor at far-right news organisation Breitbart.

Glasgow University: Remove Milo Yiannopoulos and Prof Jordan Peterson from GU Rector Candidacy - S... https://t.co/voRgRHB0L5 via @CdnChange — Heather McLean (@mcleanhe) March 4, 2017

After his nomination, which required at least ten students, the 32-year-old has accepted the invitation to take part in the election process.

Writing on his Facebook page he said: "Tip for Glasgow students: Literally nothing will annoy your professors more than this."

Sign the petition to remove MY from the ballot.https://t.co/geMxm5Rd9N — Moira Hansen (@moiraehansen) March 3, 2017

He was previously banned from Twitter following comments made about actress Leslie Jones concerning her role in the 2016 Ghostbusters remake.

Yiannopoulos is one of 12 names put forward by students at the university to replace the current rector, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The petition has also called for the removal of another candidate, Professor Jordan Peterson, from consideration.

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Peterson is a clinical psychology professor at University of Toronto widely known for his views against genderless pronouns.

The petition reads: "Glasgow University students are appalled to learn that known transphobes Milo Yiannopoulos and Professor Jordan Peterson have been deemed appropriate as eligible candidates for the position of University Rector.

"Late last year, Peterson became vocal in his refusal to use gender neutral pronouns as requested by transgender staff and students. His public denial of the validity of non-binary and gender non-conforming identities sparked an increase in abuse and harassment faced by trans students at the University of Toronto, where Peterson currently teaches psychology.

"Yiannopoulos currently serves as one of the most recognisable faces of the 'alt-right' movement - in other words, neo-fascism. As well as outing and bullying individual transgender students at universities he has spoken at, he also received a Twitter ban for racist and misogynistic abuse of actress Leslie Jones. More recently, publishers Simon & Schuster terminated a book deal with Yiannopoulos after he condoned statutory rape.

"The transphobic, misogynistic, violent ideologies perpetrated by these candidates not only put vulnerable students at the University at risk of harm, but are in direct violation of the University's Equality & Diversity Policy. Their inclusion as candidates is utterly inappropriate at best and potentially dangerous at worst. We therefore demand that the senate revoke both Peterson's and Yiannopoulos's candidacies to ensure the safety and well-being of the University's students."

The rector's role is to represent students' interests, working with the Students Representative Council, and is expected to attend five meetings annually.

The university's website read: "All nominees have personally agreed to take part in the election which will be conducted electronically and under the single-transferable-vote system from 9am on 20 March until 4pm on 21 March 2017."

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The full list of candidates is: Aamer Anwar, Dr Leif Azzopardi, Brace Belden, Sir Vince Cable, Lady Cosgrove, Graeme Eddolls, Thomas Hind, John Lindberg, Duncan Logie, Professor Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Tease and Milo Yiannopoulos.