Ministers try to quell fees rebellion

Ministers moved to minimise backbench anger over university top-up fees before a Commons vote today.

Many Labour opponents of plans to allow universities to charge up to £3,000 a year in tuition fees plan to abstain in this afternoon's vote at the end of an Opposition debate on student finance. Labour whips called MPs to shore up support for Tony Blair as ministers tried to minimise the revolt by tabling an amendment praising the Government's achievements in education but not mentioning plans for tuition fees.

Liberal Democrats tried to engineer a rebellion with a motion urging ministers "not to allow universities to introduce top-up fees".

A total of 173 Labour MPs have signed three motions criticising the plans.