Controversial Labour peer Maurice Glasman will face student anger today over his anti-immigration rhetoric when he speaks at a National Union of Students (NUS) conference.

A row has been raging among the union's leaders since Mr Glasman was invited to speak at an event in Manchester to promote student activism.

Mr Glasman has argued that Labour should embrace English Defence League thugs and called for a total freeze on immigration.

"Britain is not an outpost of the UN," the Blue Labour founder told the Telegraph in 2011.

A group of NUS officers have campaigned to have his invitation revoked and are expected to tear into his statements at today's event.

Executive member Rosie Huzzard called the invite "an affront to international students" at a time when migrants are under attack.

President Toni Pearce hit back, insisting Mr Glasman posed no threat to student safety and arguing that a ban would leave the NUS as a "narrow and closed sect."

She said: "If we were instead to close our doors to all but those we were in complete agreement on every issue, we would end up talking only to ourselves about ourselves."

But executive member James McCash told the Star Mr Glasman's "reactionary views will be given an authority which they do not deserve.

"Glasman's views need to be challenged not endorsed," he said.

"The NUS leadership have not invited him to a debate, but to deliver a keynote speech."