FT.com - seventeen minutes ago
Blair wins vote on top-up fees By Christopher Adams, Political Correspondent, Ben Hall at Westminster and FT staff
Tony Blair, UK prime minister, on Tuesday narrowly survived a knife-edge vote in the House of Commons on the introduction of tuition fees for university students.
The Higher Education Bill was supported by 316 votes to 311 after days of intense campaigning by ministers and rebels.
Despite the slim victory, it will provide a boost to the prime minister on the eve of the publication of Lord Hutton's report into the death of weapons scientist David Kelly.
The number of Labour backbenchers opposing Mr Blair's education reforms receded throughout Tuesday after Nick Brown, a leading rebel, switched to backing the prime minister following fresh assurances.
Mr Brown's move to supporting university "top-up" fees was also said to have prompted other hardline rebels to follow suit. By 1.45pm, three other rebels who had intended to vote against the government - Clive Betts, Angela Eagle and Bob Blizzard - were believed to have been dissuaded.
There was immediate speculation that Gordon Brown, the chancellor, may have been influential in turning the tide.
Nick Brown is a close friend of the chancellor and, it is thought, made his decision on Tuesday morning when it became clear after a difficult night of negotiations with the government there would be no fresh concessions to the rebels.
The vote had been poised on a knife-edge and Mr Brown's decision was a blow to other rebels.
George Mudie, another rebel leader and a confidante of Mr Brown, said he was "very sad" about his colleague's defection. "He's a very good friend of mine, was, is and will be. It's a very wrong decision."
As Barbara Roche, another former minister and prominent rebel, was said to have dropped her opposition to the bill and Anne Campbell, another leading rebel, announced she would abstain, Mr Mudie thought the rebels were still in with a chance.
Whips had earlier predicted an 8-vote defeat for Mr Blair.
Mr Brown earlier said the "concessions the government have made are good enough for me", prompting speculation that ministers had offered further changes.
Downing Street insisted there had been no "changes to the bill or negotiations since last night, no changes to principles contained within the bill and no extra money."
However, in a statement to the House of Commons, Charles Clarke, education secretary, disclosed that an independent review due to examine variable fees three years after their introduction in 2006 could, if significant changes were required, lead to a new higher education bill in 2010.
Labour backbenchers repeatedly sought assurances on the scope of the review and the potential for future changes.
In addition, it is understood that the Treasury will examine whether grants and other help for poorer students should be extended to middle income as well as lower income families, those earning up to £40,000.
This could lead to more money for higher education in the next spending round to pay for an extension of grants.
Mr Blair made it clear he was not prepared to give ground on the key issue of allowing universities to charge variable fees, despite making concessions on other parts of the bill.