It’s an open field for institutions who really want to try something different, so the interesting question is: why do so few have a go at this? When I was a kid, we were taught the well-known game in which all questions and answers have to avoid particular words, and the winner was the one who could go the longest without saying “Yes, No, Black, White, Grey”. Universities should try it with “Excellence, Outstanding, Quality, Distinctive and Unrivalled.”

Who would be left?

For the VCs, the most obvious reason is prestige, though of course the fact that it is obvious doesn’t make it most important. Prestige is a positional good and only applies to the clubs. There can only be one ‘top club’ in the UK, which is the Russell group. Those who do not belong will say that its members are outrageous elitists who are only ‘top’ by their own definition. But actually, yes it’s true, the 1994 group comprises universities that don’t meet the rules for joining the Russell group, and would promptly apply if and when they do meet the criteria.

The second main reason for joining, ie lobbying, was what inspired the Russell group in the first place. Other groups were formed because VCs were worried that their type of uni might miss out because the Russell group was bending the ear of ministers and civil servants. So Million Plus lobbies on behalf of one part of the sector, as do the other groups.

Third, these alliances are also about networking and benchmarking. The VCs and other senior managers may spend part of their time congratulating themselves on how jolly splendid they are, but they are also sharing ideas, information and practices. I used to work at one Russell uni where a senior manager used to talk explicitly about negative benchmarks (Durham, amusingly, was one) that ‘we do not want to be compared with’.

And much as I love listening to Brits bickering, we shouldn’t be too parochial about this. Instead of fussing about England and Scotland, remember that there are also international alliances. These can be particularly important at the European level, where they can not only influence policy but also provide a platform for funding applications for research and so on. Those who can’t see any further than the candyfloss will just assume that the VCs are off junketing, but again these alliances perform a number of functions apart from ego-stroking.