A SENIOR member of the clergy linked a gay MP’s death to his sexuality in a speech in Oxford.

Archbishop of Glasgow-elect Philip Tartaglia made the comments when he appeared at Magdalen College in April, but the video of the speech has recently come to light.

He was referring to the death of Labour MP David Cairns, who died last year from complications from acute pancreatitis.

Responding to a question about the suicide of an author in America, he said: "If what I have heard is true about the relationship between the physical and mental health of gay men, if it is true, then society is being very quiet about it.

"Recently in Scotland there was a gay Catholic MP who died at the age of 44 or so, and nobody said anything, and why his body should just shut down at that age?

“Obviously he could have had a disease that would have killed anybody. But you seem to hear so many stories about this kind of thing, but society won't address it."

Watch the video here