Where are we with the tuition fee rebellion? Nick Clegg has an article in the FT claiming that the coalition’s policy is fairness codified, but he is running out of time to
persuade his own MPs either way. Barring various unlikelihoods, the crunch vote will be held on Thursday. Before then, a handful of PPSs could well resign their bag-carrying roles. And, judging by
today’s Sun, a few ministers might even join them (Norman Baker, of course,
as well as Steve Webb and Lynne Featherstone). The plan to present a “united front” has already crumbled to naught.
What’s left for Clegg, ahead of his meeting with MPs later today, is to prevent some of the more toxic fallout from this vote. The resistance of backbenchers like Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell is to be expected, and I doubt it will unduly excite the public.
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