CALLS have been made to York’s two MPs to vote against proposed rises in university tuition fees as a prominent Conservative politician announced he would vote against the coalition at the end of Thursday’s fees debate.

David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden, said he was concerned hiking fees up to almost £9,000 would harm social mobility and lead to rocketing student debt.

“I suspect I am a rebellion of one,” he said, referring to the rest of the Tory party.

Meanwhile, Chris Wiggin, who is standing for the Liberal Democrats in the Heslington ward at next year’s local elections, has contacted Hugh Bayley and Julian Sturdy, who represent the York Central and York Outer constituencies respectively, asking them to oppose the move.

The Government has called a vote on Thursday which could lead to the cap on tuition fees being raised from its current £3,290 level to £9,000 a year.

And Mr Wiggin, who is also vice-chair of the Campaigns of Liberal Youth, the youth and student wing of the Lib Dems, said: “I urge Hugh Bayley and Julian Sturdy, as our local MPs, to vote against this rise in fees and to call on the Government to present their White Paper on higher education funding as soon as possible so Parliament can have a full and proper debate on the proposed changes.”