Rebel MPs unmoved as fee juggernaut rolls on

A poll conducted by the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) reveals that the government faces an uphill battle if it is to get its planned university top-up fees legislation through an hostile Parliament. Of the 143 vocal Labour critics of the top-up fee plans contacted by the THES in its survey, only three said that they had been convinced by the government's arguments and would now support the legislation. The legislation will fail if just 83 of Labour's 408 MPs vote against it, assuming, as is expected, that all 54 Liberal Democrat and 163 Conservative MPs also vote against it. Under the plans, universities will be allowed to charge variable top-up fees of up to UKPd3,000/yr.