Labour rebels may force Blair’s Commons defeat

WITH dozens of Labour Party legislators in revolt, British Prime Minister Tony Blair may be defeated in a House of Commons vote today for the first time since he won power in 1997.

The showdown on raising university tuition charges threatens to damage his position more than lingering doubts about the war in Iraq.

“It’s too close to call,” said Mr Blair’s official spokesman.

A defeat would be more significant because the issue is at the top of the prime minister’s legislative agenda this year.

The highly charged political week continues tomorrow when Mr Blair faces another gruelling day, responding to a judge’s report on the apparent suicide of a scientific adviser who reportedly raised doubts about the government’s case for war. The nation’s punters are losing confidence in Mr Blair. The William Hill betting shops cut the odds on him surviving in office until the end of January from 20-1 last week to 12-1.

Treasury chief Gordon Brown led the government’s lobbying yesterday on the tuition issue. “I want us to be the best-educated, best-trained workforce, and tomorrow’s much-needed reform of university finance, which I urge all MPs and all Labour MPs to support, is another vital step toward that goal,” said Mr Brown.

In a late concession to rebels, Education Secretary Charles Clarke said on Sunday that the proposed law raising tuition to a maximum of $5,500 a year would include a guarantee that the ceiling could not be lifted for the next two Parliamentary terms, as late as 2016.

The fight over tuition fees has crystallised discontent in a section of the Labour Party which reveres its historic socialist values, and grudgingly accepted Blair as leader because he could win national elections.

The issue is especially sticky because the Labour Party promised in its 1997 election manifesto it would not impose “top-up” fees, or tuition hikes.

“Once you make a promise you should stick to it,” said Alice Mahon, one of the Labour rebels and, perhaps not coincidentally, one of Blair’s most persistent critics about Iraq.

Ian Gibson, a leader of the Labour rebels, said he had no interest in undermining Blair. “I have plenty of confidence in Tony Blair. What I don’t understand is why this issue has become the moment of truth.”

However, another moment of truth looms tomorrow, with the publication of Lord Hutton’s report on the apparent suicide of David Kelly.