A NORTH Yorkshire MP was today urging Labour backbenchers to give Tony Blair a "bloody nose" over top-up fees.
Harrogate Liberal Democrat Phil Willis was urging Labour MPs to support his motion condemning the controversial plans in a Westminster vote tonight.
Mr Willis, Lib Dem education spokesman, is calling on the Government to ditch plans to allow elite universities such as York to charge students an extra £3,000 per year.
He wants the 173 Labour MPs who have signed early day motions opposing the fees - which critics argue will create a "two-tier" university system and prevent poor students going to the best institutions - to register their protests in the division lobby.
Mr Willis said he expected many MPs to respond to his call.
He said: "Their seats may be in danger from rebelling against the Government - but equally serious will be the danger to their seats if this suicide policy goes ahead. Top-up fees would make Britain's universities a two-tier education system, with universities separated by what they can charge and students split by what they can afford."
Updated: 11:11 Monday, June 23, 2003
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