Blair to face fee rebels

Tony Blair will today confront the Labour rebels over university top-up fees face to face.

And tonight he will face a TV cross-examination in an effort to persuade the voters that the plan is the best way forward.

The revolt which could make or break the Prime Minister's future when the Commons votes next week was today on a knife edge.

The rebels were still asserting they had around 100 backers well over the 82 required to vote alongside the Tories and inflict a crushing defeat on the Government.

The Tories, meanwhile signalled that their own policy is to change. Michael Howard yesterday ditched the pledge from predecessor Iain Duncan Smith, who ruled out any kind of top-up fees.

Mr Howard said that neither Labour nor his own party had an answer to bridge the £11 billion gap in university funding. But he said the Conservatives could and would come up with a workable plan.

Mr Blair was facing backbench MPs at an emergency Commons meeting today.