LONDON - British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg pleaded with his Liberal Democrat MPs to support the Coalition Government's controversial plan to allow universities to charge up to £9000 ($18,800) a year in tuition fees.
But at a meeting of his MPs ahead of the critical Commons vote on feestoday, Clegg conceded that his party would not maintain a united front and "walk through the fire" together.
The pressure on the Liberal Democrat leader increased as it emerged that several Conservative MPs may refuse to support the plan for a dramatic hike in fees, which has inspired large protests in Britain.
David Davis, a former shadow home secretary, will oppose the move and at least four others may either join him or abstain.
The unexpected Tory rebellion added to the jitters among ministers.
BBC Radio 5, in a survey of all 57 Liberal Democrat MPs, found only two who said they would definitely vote with the Government, while 13 said they would definitely vote against.
In a speech to his MPs, the Deputy Prime Minister admitted that a compromise plan for all of them to abstain had failed to unite the party because some were determined to vote against the fees rise. He announced that he would vote in favour of it.
The Liberal Democrats had promised in the run-up to the May election to phase out tuition fees.
Insisting that "to govern was to choose", Clegg said the Coalition had decided to invest in early years education. "Higher education is one of those areas where we had to make compromises. We did not win the election," he said.
Clegg hopes to avoid any resignations, but two Liberal Democrat ministers, Norman Baker at the Department for Transport and Lynne Featherstone at the Home Office, may quit their posts so they can oppose the fees increase.
