According to the Ucas Clearing website there are vacancies for courses beginning in the next two weeks at at least six out of the Russell Group's 24 universities, including Birmingham, Sheffield and Queen Mary's, University of London.

BBC: Russell Group universities have student places

Last month, Bilal Philips, barred from entering Australia because of security concerns, was scheduled as guest of honour at the Queen Mary University Islamic Society's (ISOC) annual dinner.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Indeed, John Meadowcroft, a political scientist at London University's Queen Mary and Westfield College, argues in a recent Political Quarterly that they are more recognisably social democrat than liberal.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot