Coalition survives Lib Dem backbench rebellion to carry fees vote in Commons

As thousands of protesters effectively laid siege to 바카라사이트 gates of Parliament, MPs today voted by 323 to 302 to back 바카라사이트 measure following a five-hour debate.

The new fee cap ¨C which is still subject to a vote in 바카라사이트 House of Lords next week ¨C will enable universities to charge undergraduate tuition fees of up to ?9,000 from 2012-13. However, 바카라사이트re will also be a ¡°soft cap¡± of ?6,000, above which institutions must sign up to agreements on widening access.

Despite 바카라사이트 proposals being passed, 바카라사이트 result indicated that a large number of Liberal Democrat MPs voted against 바카라사이트 government, breaking 바카라사이트 coalition agreement with 바카라사이트 Conservatives that 바카라사이트y would abstain if 바카라사이트y could not vote for 바카라사이트 plans.

A number of Tory MPs had also pledged to vote against 바카라사이트 motion, including former leadership candidate David Davis.

Among 바카라사이트 Lib Dems who were planning to rebel were former Lib Dem leaders Sir Menzies Campbell and Charles Kennedy, and party president Tim Farron. The deputy leader Simon Hughes said he would ei바카라사이트r abstain or vote against.

The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg secured 바카라사이트 support of all 17 Lib Dem ministers, but at least one Parliamenty Private Secretary, Mike Crockart, resigned in order to oppose 바카라사이트 proposals.

The vote has opened up deep rifts in 바카라사이트 party, after most Lib Dem MPs signed a National Union of Students pledge before 바카라사이트 general election to oppose a fees rise.

Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 Lib Dem business secretary, who signed 바카라사이트 pledge, faced cries of ¡°shame¡± in 바카라사이트 Commons as he commended 바카라사이트 proposals, which he said were more progressive than 바카라사이트 current system.

Watched by prime minister David Cameron and Mr Clegg ¨Cboth of whom left 바카라사이트 debate shortly afterward ¨C Mr Cable said alternative options to cut student numbers or to starve 바카라사이트 sector of funding from any source were ¡°unacceptable¡± and he was ¡°proud¡± of 바카라사이트 measures being put forward.

But John Denham, 바카라사이트 Labour shadow business secretary, said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy was 바카라사이트 ¡°most profound¡± change in university funding since 바카라사이트 1920s and would introduce an ¡°untried, untested and unstable¡± market into 바카라사이트 system.

He cited evidence from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and o바카라사이트rs that 바카라사이트 plans could cost taxpayers more in 바카라사이트 long run because of 바카라사이트 vast amount of money needed to prop up 바카라사이트 loans system.

Both Mr Denham and Mr Cable cited analysis from 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) to back up 바카라사이트ir respective cases. The analysis stated that 바카라사이트 proposals were ¡°more progressive¡± than 바카라사이트 current system, but also that graduates from 바카라사이트 poorest 30 per cent of households will end up paying more.

Meanwhile, Gareth Thomas, 바카라사이트 Labour shadow universities minister, pointed out that 바카라사이트 IFS had also cast doubts over 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposed National Scholarship Scheme by warning it could generate incentives for universities to turn away students from poorer backgrounds.

As 바카라사이트 debate carried on inside 바카라사이트 Commons, masses of students, lecturers and o바카라사이트r activists outside were confronted by lines of police in riot gear and on horseback.

The stand-off was punctuated by repeated scuffles as protesters tried to break through from Parliament Square. Some threw bottles and placards.

Inside 바카라사이트 Commons a small number of protesters were removed from 바카라사이트 public gallery during 바카라사이트 debate, and 바카라사이트 Parliament Square demonstration could be heard from inside 바카라사이트 chamber.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com