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7 December 2010
Last updated at 09:27 ET
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will seek to prevent a large-scale tuition fees rebellion when he meets his MPs later.
There is still uncertainty over whether leading party figures will oppose the coalition's plans to raise fees in England to as much as £9,000 a year.
Mr Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable have indicated they will support the policy, although it runs counter to a Lib Dem pre-election pledge.
But a survey of Lib Dem MPs by the BBC suggests wide divisions on the issue.
All 57 were contacted on Monday to gauge how they planned to vote on Thursday, with 13 saying they would vote with Labour against the fees proposal.
A further 13 said they were undecided, while two said they would back the government. Sixteen refused to say how they would vote. One will not be voting as they are abroad, while 12 did not respond.
'Hold together' Mr Clegg, who is also deputy prime minister, will speak to the Lib Dems' weekly parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday evening, where the topic of fees is expected to to dominate proceedings.
He is also expected to hold one-to-one meetings with his colleagues.
Before the election the party's MPs signed a pledge promising to oppose any increase in university tuition fees from the current £3,290 during this parliament.
But the policy of the government - in which the Lib Dems are partners - is to support a rise.
Under the terms of the coalition agreement, Lib Dem MPs, including ministers, are allowed to abstain on the issue.
However, former party leaders Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell have said they will vote with Labour against the increase and transport minister Norman Baker has hinted he might quit the government in order to join them.
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Another former leader, Lord Ashdown, has predicted the Lib Dems will "hold together", whatever the outcome.
Lib Dem former cabinet minister Baroness Williams said the MPs who signed the pre-election pledge on fees had not been "wise", adding: "They did it in good faith but had a very, very sharp awakening when the couldn't [implement the policy]."
She told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the coalition's plans had to be supported, calling them hard but fair, and saying they had been "carefully tailored to assist those at the bottom of the heap".
David Davis has become the first prominent Conservative to say he will vote against the rises.
The former shadow home secretary confirmed he would not support the plans in an e-mail to the National Union of Students' body at Hull University, seen by the BBC.
Another Tory MP, Ilford North's Lee Scott, has said he will not back the coalition's proposals.
The National Union of Students is promising to campaign directly against Lib Dem MPs who back the fees increase, arguing that the change will deter people from poorer backgrounds from going to university.
Lib Dem backbencher Greg Mulholland is pushing for the vote to be called off, so that a full public consultation on the future of university funding in England can be carried out ahead of a government white paper in 2011.
On Monday evening, a sit-in protest by about 100 students took place at London's Tate Britain ahead of the Turner prize announcement.
How do you think Liberal Democrat MPs should vote? How should universities be funded? Are you a parent supporting or opposing the current proposals?
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There is still uncertainty over whether leading party figures will oppose the coalition's plans to raise fees in England to as much as £9,000 a year.
Mr Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable have indicated they will support the policy, although it runs counter to a Lib Dem pre-election pledge.
But a survey of Lib Dem MPs by the BBC suggests wide divisions on the issue.
All 57 were contacted on Monday to gauge how they planned to vote on Thursday, with 13 saying they would vote with Labour against the fees proposal.
A further 13 said they were undecided, while two said they would back the government. Sixteen refused to say how they would vote. One will not be voting as they are abroad, while 12 did not respond.
'Hold together' Mr Clegg, who is also deputy prime minister, will speak to the Lib Dems' weekly parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday evening, where the topic of fees is expected to to dominate proceedings.
He is also expected to hold one-to-one meetings with his colleagues.
Before the election the party's MPs signed a pledge promising to oppose any increase in university tuition fees from the current £3,290 during this parliament.
But the policy of the government - in which the Lib Dems are partners - is to support a rise.
Under the terms of the coalition agreement, Lib Dem MPs, including ministers, are allowed to abstain on the issue.
However, former party leaders Charles Kennedy and Sir Menzies Campbell have said they will vote with Labour against the increase and transport minister Norman Baker has hinted he might quit the government in order to join them.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Another former leader, Lord Ashdown, has predicted the Lib Dems will "hold together", whatever the outcome.
Lib Dem former cabinet minister Baroness Williams said the MPs who signed the pre-election pledge on fees had not been "wise", adding: "They did it in good faith but had a very, very sharp awakening when the couldn't [implement the policy]."
She told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the coalition's plans had to be supported, calling them hard but fair, and saying they had been "carefully tailored to assist those at the bottom of the heap".
David Davis has become the first prominent Conservative to say he will vote against the rises.
The former shadow home secretary confirmed he would not support the plans in an e-mail to the National Union of Students' body at Hull University, seen by the BBC.
Another Tory MP, Ilford North's Lee Scott, has said he will not back the coalition's proposals.
The National Union of Students is promising to campaign directly against Lib Dem MPs who back the fees increase, arguing that the change will deter people from poorer backgrounds from going to university.
Lib Dem backbencher Greg Mulholland is pushing for the vote to be called off, so that a full public consultation on the future of university funding in England can be carried out ahead of a government white paper in 2011.
On Monday evening, a sit-in protest by about 100 students took place at London's Tate Britain ahead of the Turner prize announcement.
How do you think Liberal Democrat MPs should vote? How should universities be funded? Are you a parent supporting or opposing the current proposals?
Powered by WizardRSS | Best Membership Site Software