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29 November 2010
Last updated at 00:46 ET
More than 100 Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates have called on leader Nick Clegg to oppose government plans to raise tuition fees in England.
The 104 activists, who did not win seats in the last election, have also targeted all 57 petitioned Lib Dem MPs.
They want the MPs to vote against the plans to allow institutions to charge fees of up to £9,000 a year.
Students at several universities are continuing sit-in protests against the proposals.
The deputy prime minister has said some of his party's ministers are considering abstaining in the vote on fees, as is allowed under the terms of the coalition agreement with the Conservatives.
'Political wilderness' But the activists warn Mr Clegg that the party's integrity was at risk and it could face "many more years back in the political wilderness" unless MPs voted to reject the proposal.
Their petition, hosted on Lib Dem candidate Derek Deedman's website, said: "During the general election campaign many of our MPs (and now government ministers) signed a pledge with the National Union of Students that they would vote against any tuition fee rises during the course of the next Parliament.
"The wording of this pledge clearly indicated that this would be unconditional; regardless of whether the party was in government or in opposition.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
"The party has been very clear for many years about its view on tuition fees and that we feel they should be abolished."
The former candidates say they are not rebelling but want the party to stick to its pre-election pledge on the issue.
They say: "This is not an attack on the coalition government's policy programme generally; nor is it some kind of 'rebellion' and it should certainly not lead to the party splitting."
But they added: "There is one thing that sets the Liberal Democrats apart from other political parties; this is that when we say we will do something during election campaigns we then do it in government."
The petition was devised by 19-year-old student Craig Bichard, a member of Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats, and supported by Mr Deedman, parlimentary candidate for the constituency, who lost out to Conservative Policing Minister Nick Herbert.
But on Sunday, Conservative higher education minister David Willetts said his Lib Dem cabinet colleague, Vince Cable, was "personally committed" to the plans.
Mr Willetts said he was "confident" the business secretary would back the measure in a Commons vote next month.
Mr Clegg said last week that he "massively regrets" being in a position where he cannot deliver on his election promise.
However, he told the BBC that more Lib Dems were becoming "comfortable" with the policy as they studied the details.
He has said the coalition's proposals are fairer than the current system as the level at which graduates will start to repay money will rise to £21,000, there will be additional support for the poorest students and upfront fees for part-time students will be axed.
The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said Mr Clegg had spent much of the past few days talking to his MPs individually to try to persuade them to abstain rather than vote against the rise in fees.
The proposals have angered students and led to mass demonstrations around the country, with another day of action due on Tuesday.
Much of the anger has been aimed at the Liberal Democrats.
Last Wednesday, there were 35 arrests and seven injuries to police officers as an initially peaceful anti-fees rise protest in Whitehall flared into violence.
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The 104 activists, who did not win seats in the last election, have also targeted all 57 petitioned Lib Dem MPs.
They want the MPs to vote against the plans to allow institutions to charge fees of up to £9,000 a year.
Students at several universities are continuing sit-in protests against the proposals.
The deputy prime minister has said some of his party's ministers are considering abstaining in the vote on fees, as is allowed under the terms of the coalition agreement with the Conservatives.
'Political wilderness' But the activists warn Mr Clegg that the party's integrity was at risk and it could face "many more years back in the political wilderness" unless MPs voted to reject the proposal.
Their petition, hosted on Lib Dem candidate Derek Deedman's website, said: "During the general election campaign many of our MPs (and now government ministers) signed a pledge with the National Union of Students that they would vote against any tuition fee rises during the course of the next Parliament.
"The wording of this pledge clearly indicated that this would be unconditional; regardless of whether the party was in government or in opposition.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
There is one thing that sets the Liberal Democrats apart from other political parties; this is that when we say we will do something during election campaigns we then do it in government”
End Quote
Lib Dem petitioners
"The party has been very clear for many years about its view on tuition fees and that we feel they should be abolished."
The former candidates say they are not rebelling but want the party to stick to its pre-election pledge on the issue.
They say: "This is not an attack on the coalition government's policy programme generally; nor is it some kind of 'rebellion' and it should certainly not lead to the party splitting."
But they added: "There is one thing that sets the Liberal Democrats apart from other political parties; this is that when we say we will do something during election campaigns we then do it in government."
The petition was devised by 19-year-old student Craig Bichard, a member of Arundel & South Downs Liberal Democrats, and supported by Mr Deedman, parlimentary candidate for the constituency, who lost out to Conservative Policing Minister Nick Herbert.
But on Sunday, Conservative higher education minister David Willetts said his Lib Dem cabinet colleague, Vince Cable, was "personally committed" to the plans.
Mr Willetts said he was "confident" the business secretary would back the measure in a Commons vote next month.
Mr Clegg said last week that he "massively regrets" being in a position where he cannot deliver on his election promise.
However, he told the BBC that more Lib Dems were becoming "comfortable" with the policy as they studied the details.
He has said the coalition's proposals are fairer than the current system as the level at which graduates will start to repay money will rise to £21,000, there will be additional support for the poorest students and upfront fees for part-time students will be axed.
The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said Mr Clegg had spent much of the past few days talking to his MPs individually to try to persuade them to abstain rather than vote against the rise in fees.
The proposals have angered students and led to mass demonstrations around the country, with another day of action due on Tuesday.
Much of the anger has been aimed at the Liberal Democrats.
Last Wednesday, there were 35 arrests and seven injuries to police officers as an initially peaceful anti-fees rise protest in Whitehall flared into violence.
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