Lord Patten, the chancellor of Oxford University, has rejected a proposal to name a college in honour of Margaret Thatcher, saying that 'she could not compete with Jesus.'' He declined London Mayor Boris Johnson's proposal to compensate for refusing to bestow Thatcher an honorary degree 30 years ago.

"You would either have to start a new college, which would be more expensive, or you would have to persuade Jesus [College] or Corpus Christi or Christ Church to change their name," said Lord Pattern, who was a cabinet minister under Thatcher. "It may be thought - however admirable she was - slightly pushing it to persuade Jesus to change its name."

Lord Patten approved the plans of introducing a Thatcher scholarship at Somerville College from where the former prime minister completed her degree. "At present the most important issue in Oxford about Margaret Thatcher's legacy is a campaign starting at her old college Somerville to start Thatcher scholarships. I hope that will be a lasting memorial to an extraordinary woman who changed the way this country is governed."

Thatcher's proponents have been urging recognition for Thatcher since her death in April, and want to award her with a posthumous honorary degree, which was earlier opposed by scholars who protested against cuts in university funding.

Thatcher is considered to be the only Oxford-educated prime minister not to be conferred an honorary degree. This bitter fact led to divisions between the Thatcher government and the Left-wing educational establishment.

"I'm still waiting for the Oxford dons to accept the gravity of their error, and in the spirit of magnanimity to award Baroness Thatcher not only a posthumous doctorate, but why not endow a college?" Mr Johnson said last month.