Blair faces crucial 48 hours
On the eve of the debate on the controversial university top-up fees bill, Prime Minister Tony Blair called on factional elements in his party to back the government’s flagship policy.
It is thought more than 100 MPs could vote against the Higher Education Bill, a contingent big enough – together with opposition MPs – to throw the measure out.
Mr Blair spent an hour and half on Monday night trying to convince his doubters.
Downing Street says the vote is “too close to call.”
Mr Blair told disgruntled backbench MPs in his Commons room not to hand victory to Tory leader Michael Howard”
Mr Blair will urge Labour MPs ahead of the vote on Tuesday not to push his administration to the brink of self-immolation.
MPs vote on the government’s plans to allow universities to charge variable tuition fees of up to £3,000 a year.
Critics say the proposals will lead to elitism, as working class students will be put off from going to university due to the high levels of indebtedness.
On Wednesday, Lord Hutton will report on the circumstances surrounding Dr David Kelly’s apparent suicide.
Lord Hutton will deliver a statement giving a “substantial” summary of his report into the death of the Iraqi weapons expert at 12:30GMT on Wednesday.
The full report will be published an hour later, with a statement to the Commons by Mr Blair and one to peers by the Lord Chancellor Falconer.
Mr Blair had admitted this is his “week of hell.”
But his Education Secretary Charles Clarke says he is confident the government will win out over hardline rebels. Mr Clarke denied Mr Blair had resorted to begging or threatening MPs.
He told ITV Evening News: “It will be a very close vote. There are still quite a number of my colleagues who have still to make up their minds, who are still talking to people in their constituencies as they have every right to do.
“However the Prime Minister is not begging or threatening anybody. He is cajoling as I am cajoling, trying to persuade colleagues of the merits of the case.
“Tony Blair’s leadership does not look shaky at all. I think it is a question of authority, but I think it is perfectly reasonable that on a major reform such as this, all colleagues should think very carefully about how they are going to vote and how they are going to cast their vote.”
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mr Blair, urging rebels to fall into line.
He told a London conference on enterprise on Monday: “I want us to be the best educated, best trained workforce, and tomorrow’s much-needed reform of university finance – which I urge all MPs and all Labour MPs to support – is another vital step towards that goal.
“Our reforms extend opportunity, they equip young people with the skills to meet the demands of the 21st century, they deserve the support of all who share our goal of securing for Britain the world-class universities now and in the future that this economy needs.”
According to bookies William Hill, Mr Blair is now 12/1 to leave office before January’s end, down from 20/1.
Should the Commons throw the Bill out, pundits claim a confidence vote on Blair’s leadership might follow.
