STUDENTS at Prince William’s old university will be discussing whether to kill Donald Trump at a “comedy debate” on Thursday.

The St Andrews University debating society have managed to upset politicians and academics who fear the club’s motion calling for “the assassination of President Trump” is in poor taste.

The society said the evening was intended as a comedy debate rather than an actual encitement to murder but that it “obviously does have some real substance in terms of the potential threat Donald Trump poses to the United States”.

Local Tory MSP Liz Smith said the debaters needed to consider if the topic was appropriate.

“It is of course normally a matter for the university students themselves to decide upon their debating topics but, in this instance, given the sensitivity of the matter and the reaction from some other students and members of the public which clearly indicates that some upset has been caused, I suspect the organisers might wish to consider whether this particular debate was appropriate,” Smith said.

Last night the Committee of the Union Debating Society defended the motion, telling The National that a debate does “not advocate action”.

“The Union Debating Society unambiguously condemns political assassination or violence of any kind,” a spokesperson for the committee said. “Mocking Donald Trump’s blatantly offensive ideas is the only approach to a debate on the US election.

“All speeches on the night will be satirical. Scotland has shown its complete contempt for Donald Trump repeatedly. We aim to follow in that proud tradition.”

The university distanced itself from the students, with a spokeswoman saying: “Although clearly intended to be a comedy title for debate, it is in poor taste, and we’re sure the students themselves would acknowledge that.”

British man Michael Steven Sandford pleaded guilty to trying to assassinate Trump at a campaign event in Las Vegas in June this year. He was charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disorderly conduct at a government function.

Sandford attempted to wrestle a gun from a police officer. He is currently waiting sentencing and could face at least 20 years in jail.

His attack on Trump came just days after Labour MP Jo Cox was killed during the EU referendum campaign. Thomas Mair, the man arrested and charged with her murder, gave his name as “death to traitors, freedom for Britain” at his first appearance in court.

Her death led to an outpouring of grief and calls for a calming of the angry rhetoric of politics in 2016. Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said the MP had been killed by a “well of hatred”, and the then prime minister, David Cameron, called on society to embrace the values of tolerance and community.

Founded in 1794, the Union Debating Society is the oldest university debating society in Britain and hosts weekly events. Last year a team from the society won the European championships.

The University of St Andrews is the third oldest in the English speaking world, and one of the most notable students in recent years was Prince William. It was here where he met his future wife, Kate Middleton.

His attendance saw applications to the university jump 44 per cent, with the British Council reporting a surge in interest from young women from the United States.

Other noted alumni include John Knox, Alex Salmond, and Danny Blanchflower.