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RCGP to discuss Sultan of Brunei’s donation after it withdraws honorary title

The RCGP has announced it will discuss the donation the Sultan of Brunei gave to the College in a meeting next week.

Today, the RCGP has confirmed it will revoke the honorary title given to the Sultan after GPs started a petition urging for his withdrawal.

At an extraordinary meeting, the College’s Trustee Board unanimously voted to take away the ‘Companion of the College’ award given to the Sultan in 2013.

The decision also comes as the word ‘Brunei’ will be immediately removed from the name of the auditorium at the RCGP headquarters.

The Trustee Board meeting next week will  discuss future work with countries operating repressive regimes.

The chair of the Trustee Board, Professor Nigel Mathers, said: ‘The fact that we convened an extraordinary meeting of Trustees shows how seriously the College is taking this issue.

‘We can confirm that robust governance procedures have been followed and that the decision of the Trustee Board was unanimous on the withdrawal of the honour and on the decision over the name of the auditorium.

RCGP chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said: ‘This has been an incredibly upsetting time for everyone – not least for our wonderful LGBTQ+ community of doctors, staff, and patients.

‘Our College honour was given in good faith but the recent events in Brunei have left us with no choice but to take action.

‘I know it has been frustrating for many of our members while we worked to find a solution, so thank you for bearing with us while we went through our due processes.

‘The College is nothing without our dedicated and committed members and staff, and we are proud to be a diverse and inclusive College that believes in equality for all.’