Blair future rests on Hutton Report and fees vote

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair was last night facing a make-or-break 24 hours, after Lord Hutton announced he was to publish his report into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly the day after a crunch Commons vote on the premier’s flagship tuition fees policy.

MPs will vote on the university reform package on January 27 and, the next day, the Hutton Report will be dramatically unveiled by the retiring law lord in a televised statement at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Rebel Labour MPs now have to decide whether to rally round Mr Blair and defuse the tuition fees issue or move in for the kill, damaging his leadership beyond repair.