Assange talks to students at Cambridge

Student organisers barred journalists from the event, saying the union was a private members’ club.

“We create intimate settings and many speakers accept our invitations on the basis that they can speak frankly and personally to a contained group of union members,” said Cambridge Union president Lauren Davidson.

“A lack of Press presence is our default position, as opposed to the other way around.”

Mr Assange is fighting attempts to extradite him to Sweden, where he is accused of sex offences.

Magistrates ruled in February that he should be extradited but he has lodged an appeal and remains on bail.

Scores of students queued to hear Mr Assange, who hit the headlines after his website published classified diplomatic material relating to the Iraq and Afghan conflicts.