YORK MP Hugh Bayley has revealed he is likely to vote for the Government's controversial plans to introduce variable student top-up fees.

Mr Bayley had been delaying his decision on whether to support the fees in next month's vote.

He declined to sign a House of Commons Early Day Motion opposing the fees, despite signing a similar motion in the last parliamentary session.

"Up-front" fees already exist, but the Government plans to bring in a system allowing different universities to charge different fees.

Mr Bayley's decision is likely to spark a storm of protest from university students and Labour activists in York.

He said: "I do not see anything wrong in principle with students paying for a small part of the cost of education when they graduate." Mr Bayley claimed the Government had made significant concessions to ensure students from low income backgrounds go to university.

He agreed there was "a danger" low income students would be put off by the fees, which must be avoided.

He said the Government had brought in "generous" schemes to help low income students.

Mr Bayley said visiting a further education college, where no fees help is available, had influenced his decision.

Selby Labour MP John Grogan, who is campaigning against the fees, said he was not surprised at Mr Bayley's decision.

"His comments in recent weeks indicated he was moving towards the Government," Mr Grogan said.

Mr Grogan said he had been one of the MPs at a meeting last night, called by Ministers to try and convince rebels of the need for the fees.

But he said: "The only thing that would change my mind would be if the Government dropped the idea of variable fees."

Dave Ellis, chairman of the York Labour Party, said the issue was dividing opinion.

The chance of a "two-tier" university system being created by variable fees was concerning many Labour supporters, he added.

Updated: 10:55 Tuesday, December 09, 2003