Editing Brian Souter (section)

===Knighthood===

Souter was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2011 Birthday Honours]] for services to transport and the voluntary sector.<ref name=gazette>{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011 |page=2 |supp=y}}</ref><ref name=birthday>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/11/queens-birthday-honours-knights |title=Queen's birthday honours list: Knights &#124; UK news |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 June 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012 |location=London}}</ref> This proved controversial, and was criticised by Scottish Labour MP [[Cathy Jamieson]], who suggested a link between the knighthood and the large amounts of money he has donated to the [[Scottish National Party]]. In a public statement, Jamieson said: "The [[Alex Salmond|First Minister]] and his party must look seriously at the relationship they have developed with wealthy individuals handing them large sums of cash. The public will rightly be asking what's next on Mr Souter's shopping list?"<ref name="Herald">{{cite web|author=HELEN McARDLE |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/shock-after-teenager-is-murdered-in-his-home.14661073 |title=Row grows over honour for Sir Brian |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=7 August 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> Salmond denied any wrongdoing in the matter and referred himself for investigation after calls for a probe by Scottish MP [[Jim Sheridan (politician)|Jim Sheridan]]. An independent report, conducted by [[Lord Fraser of Carmyllie]], cleared Salmond of any wrongdoing, asserting that "There appears to me to have been no breach of the ministerial code by Alex Salmond as First Minister and he should be wholly exonerated of any breach."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/2011/11/28/alex-salmond-cleared-of-any-wrong-doing-in-knighthood-nomination-for-stagecoach-tycoon-brian-souter-86908-23594215/ |title=Alex Salmond cleared of any wrong-doing in knighthood nomination for Stagecoach tycoon Brian Souter |newspaper=The Daily Record |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

Souter's knighthood was also criticised by some gay rights campaigners, who felt that the honour was insulting to the gay community and was effectively rewarding homophobia, given Souter's past campaigning. A petition to have the knighthood withdrawn received 5,000 signatures by July 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dalberto |first=Lorenzo |url=http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2011/07/05/nus-lgbt-oppose-brain-souters-knighthood/ |title= Gay students oppose Brian Souter's Knighthood |publisher=deadlinenews.co.uk |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>