Government majority on top up fees slashed

Monday, 23 June 2003 12:00 AM

The Government's majority on the issue of top up fees has been slashed after MPs voted on a motion tabled by the Liberal Democrats.

The special debate on university fees that took place in the Commons today has highlighted the level of opposition to top-up tuition fees.

The debate tabled by the Liberal Democrats was calling for the plans to introduce fees to be abandoned in a move being backed by the Conservatives.

The Government's returned majority fell from 164 to 74 after MPs voted against the motion by 267 to 193. Ten Labour MPs rebelled against Labour Party whips, but many others were believed to have decided not to vote.

That was in keeping with earlier predictions that the Government was likely to experience opposition from its own MPs with a total of 173 Labour MPs reportedly having signed early day motions opposing the fees.

The Liberal Democrats' education spokesman Phil Willis said his party was hoping these MPs would continue to vote against the plans.

'We are trying to say to the Labour rebels that yours was a principled objection to top-up fees, here is a principled motion to allow you to send a strong message to your government,' he told the BBC.

Under the controversial proposals universities would be allowed to charge up to £3,000 a year from 2006. A bill paving the way for the charges is to be presented to parliament in the autumn.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke has been warned by Labour backbenchers that the policy is an 'electoral liability' that could lose the party many seats.

Critics argue that the fees will create a 'two-tier' university system and discourage students from lower-income backgrounds going to the best institutions.

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