Blair avoids defeat on fees by a whisker

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair avoided a humiliating defeat in the House of Commons last night by a mere five votes.

A controversial government proposal on university tuition fees was passed by 316 votes to 311, the smallest majority of any whipped vote under Mr Blair.

Up to 71 Labour rebels are believed to have voted against the government, which at one stage looked set to be defeated on the issue.