Campbell in stand over tuition fees

[dutchman]

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is facing mounting pressure over tuition fees after his predecessor confirmed he would vote against any rises.



Sir Menzies Campbell said his credibility would be "shot to pieces" if he broke the party's high-profile general election pledge on the issue.

The intervention came after Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes attempted to soothe disquiet among backbenchers over the Government's plans for higher contributions from students.

He said Lord Browne's report into higher education funding had only been a "starting point", hinting that the party leadership hoped to wring more concessions out of the Tories.

The coalition agreement allows Lib Dem MPs to abstain when the proposals reach Parliament, in recognition of their long-term commitment to abolishing tuition fees.

But several have already indicated that they will go further and vote against rather than remaining neutral.

Even though it would take a massive mutiny to prevent the measures going through the Commons, a sizeable public split would be damaging for the coalition and Mr Clegg.

Asked if he would still be voting against tuition fee increases in the light of the Browne report, Sir Menzies told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "Yes. I've made that clear for some considerable time."

He stressed that he, along with Mr Clegg and Business Secretary Vince Cable, had made election promises to oppose fee rises.

"Not only did I sign a pledge, I was photographed doing it," he added.