Rebels launch war to defeat Blair

Labour rebels were today revealed to be performing a ruthlessly organised campaign to hand Tony Blair a devastating defeat over university topup fees.

A leaked memo showed former ministers were using all the tricks of the trade to put pressure on waverers not to abandon their opposition.

The note, from George Mudie to Barbara Roche, asked her to see a third MP, Linda Perham, to stiffen her resolve and added that other backbenchers were being "dealt with".

Both Mr Mudie and Ms Roche are former government whips well-schooled in the techniques of arm-twisting and cajoling practised at Westminster. The note is the first clear proof of the lengths rebel leaders - many of whom are supporters of Gordon Brown - are going to in order to inflict a crushing blow on the Prime Minister.

He has already announced his authority is on the line over the move to let universities charge students variable fees of up to £3,000 a year.

A survey today suggested most universities would impose the full amount in fees for all or most courses, appearing to contradict government claims that a natural "market" would emerge in the higher education sector. Alison Richard, vice chancellor of Cambridge University, said top-up fees were "urgently needed" and that teaching in her university was underfunded by about £24 million a year.

Michael Driscoll, vice-chancellor of Middlesex University, said: "We'll charge £3,000 across the board. That's the way to maximise the cash available to the poorest students through bursaries."

Mr Blair will step up his own campaign to win backing for his policy tomorrow, with a major speech on higher education. A day later he will address the issue head on in his monthly news conference at Downing Street.

In a twin-pronged attack, Education Secretary Charles Clarke will address backbench Labour MPs on top-up fees, also tomorrow, as well as being grilled by the all-party Education Select Committee. But there was little or any sign that significant numbers of rebels were abandoning their opposition to topup fees and coming over to the Government's side.

Mr Mudie suggested his canvassing was showing the number of rebels "in three figures" - more than enough to defeat Mr Blair and scupper the Higher Education Bill at its first Commons hurdle on 27 January.

His memo listed four MPs who might be wavering from an initial stance of opposition to top-up fees - Ms Perham, Tom Cox, Clive Efford and Steve Pound. Mr Efford's name is crossed out. Mr Mudie asks Ms Roche: "Barbara, out of this list can you see Linda Perham? The others are being dealt with."