Top-up rebellion shows signs of weakening

The Labour mass revolt over top-up fees showed the first signs of crumbling today, as MPs warned they would play no part in a plot to "get Blair".

There was growing suspicion and anger in the Labour ranks over claims that the mutiny was being manipulated by a group hostile to the Prime Minister - and, in some cases, sympathetic to Gordon Brown.

Former minister Tony Banks headed a group of MPs, said to number at least a dozen, who initially opposed the plan to charge up to £3,000 for university tuition but who were now ready to back the Government.

Mr Banks said he had switched partly because of concessions made by Charles Clarke. But he went on "I also did not like this idea of a group of ex-ministers being out to get Tony Blair."

Another rebel Stephen Pound said the leak of a heavy-handed whipping operation, including a discussion of how he should be "dealt with" had moved him back to the Government's side. "I am definitely a firm wobbler now," he said.

Despite the waverers, the revolt still presented a massive threat to Mr Blair with a real chance of defeat when the Commons votes on the measure on 27 January.