AN EFFIGY of United States' President Barack Obama was burned on a St Andrews beach last weekend by members of the University of St Andrews Conservative and Unionist Association.

It is believed that the incident took place on Friday November 18 on the university town’s East Sands beach.

Early suggestions that the effigy was cloaked in a flag of the European Union were strongly denied.

The association have since apologised unreservedly for the offence that the incident caused.

The event was supposedly part of a yearly ritual in which members of the association vote to select a public figure to be burned on a bonfire. Matthew Marshall, president of the Conservative Association at the university said that the society planned to write to the US president to apologise after being summoned by the university and made aware of the “serious concerns” which arose from the incident.

He also said in a statement, “The US and President Obama are important allies of the United Kingdom and, on behalf of the whole association, I apologise unreservedly.

“This is undoubtedly a stupid act and it is deeply regretted by all of us in the St Andrews Conservative Association. I will make sure this never happens again.”

He went on to apologise for any damage caused to either the University of St Andrews or the Conservative party.

A spokesperson for the university said, “We are satisfied that, while the actions of the St Andrews Conservative Association in burning an effigy of President Obama were naïve and crassly insensitive, they were not intentionally racist.”

“This incident, however, has caused very understandable offence and concern to many people, and the university deeply regrets this.

“This incident, however, has caused very understandable offence and concern to many people, and the university deeply regrets this. “The University of St Andrews holds a firm belief in the value of political debate and free expression but we expect our students to always treat others with respect.

“We have met the president of the Conservative Association to make him aware of the university’s very serious concerns and he has been quick to make an unreserved public apology, and it is correct that he has done so. Sam Fowles, University of St Andrews Students’ Association director of representation said, “I do not believe this was a racist act but I don’t believe that makes it any less disgusting.

“Student representatives have shown that the vast majority of St Andrews students are much better than this sort of puerile and offensive behaviour.”

The University of Edinburgh Conservatives Association did not respond to The Student’s request for comment on the issue.