Teflon Tony, otherwise known as the ‘Houdini of British politics’ has
narrowly escaped a major political defeat yet again. It is however fair to say
that his protective layer of teflon may be wearing off, as the Labour majority
in parliament was reduced to just 5, down from the on-paper majority of 161. To
reduce a majority of 161 to just 5 is the absolute height of incompetence. The
bill on tuition top-up fees passed its second reading by a vote of 316 to 311,
and the Labour Party’s parliamentary group is looking seriously beleaguered
after an intense few days of political haggling and backroom swindles.
The Rebellion Fails
As Tuesday’s vote was looming, it looked as if Tony Blair was about 20-30
votes shy of the necessary votes to pass the bill. The day began with government
supporters telling rebel MPs that they had to choose between Tony Blair or
Michael Howard. The whips from both sides were sent out on last minute missions
aggressively trying to win support. Some rebels were commenting that the tactics
used by government whips ‘was an attempt to intimidate us’.
Although Blair and company survived the vote, the serious divisions in the
Labour Party point to problems in the future. Tories commented on the ‘utter
humiliation’ of a government that had suffered the biggest revolt on a
three-line whip in over 50 years. The Liberal-Democrat spokesman on education
denounced the ‘shabby charade’ that saw a Labour government support ‘a
Thatcherite policy in direct opposition to what they said during the general
election’. In the end 72 Labour MPs voted against the bill, with 19
abstaining. Blair’s victory literally came down to the 11th hour. At 6.15 a
party whip received a note saying that the government was still down by 3. At
6.45 another note claimed ‘the hunt goes on’. Within the last half hour, 2
or 3 backbenchers fell in to line to give Blair his narrow victory.
This was Blair’s third major rebellion in under a year. Blair also suffered
a revolt on the war in Iraq, and on the question of foundation hospitals where
62 Labour MPs voted against the government.
Divisions at the Top
Tory co-chairman Liam Fox commented that ‘Blair reigns, but Brown rules.’
Many are saying that Gordon Brown’s display of backroom muscle may give him
his long-awaited shot at the premiership. His supporters in the party are
crediting him with saving the government, making his case for leader of the
Labour Party stronger. Apparently the Brownite team worked all day to swing some
20-30 rebel votes to the side of the government. In a perhaps not-so-surprising
move, Nick Brown, the figurehead of the fees rebellion, announced Tuesday
morning that he would support the government bill, saying that ‘the
concessions that the government made are good enough for me’. Well, the
concessions may have been good enough for him, a Member of Parliament, but what
about all the students who had faith in him and the rebels and for whom top-up
fees will not be good? Mr. Brown’s political somersault did not go unnoticed
and is not without explanation. Blairite supporters commented that ‘the
concessions are meaningless, which was pretty clear when Nick Brown struggled to
explain himself in the chamber’. It is clear that Nick Brown’s cause is
Gordon Brown’s premiership, and not halting top-up fees. There was also
another reason for the Browns to ‘save the government.’ As a Blairite
supporter commented ‘(Gordon) didn’t want Tony to lose the vote and for his
camp to be seen as old Labour’.
What Are Students Left With?
After Nick Brown announced that he was switching sides, the NUS announced
that they expected the bill to pass its second reading. NUS president Mandy
Telford claimed that she was still hopeful, but disappointed that Nick Brown,
the leader of the rebellion on top-up fees had jumped sides.
In the end it is students who lost yesterday, as top-up fees will only mean a
two-tier post-secondary education system, less accessibility for students and
workers to attend university, and a skyrocketing amount of debt for those that
do actually attend university.
Top-up fees were rejected in Labour’s 2001 election manifesto. Now Labour
leaders and University Chancellors have joined in a chorus claiming they are so
urgent that the bill on top-up fees must be immediately legislated. What this is
really about is creating a market in universities and education. Some university
chancellors are already talking about the ‘privatisation’ of the
universities.
The divisions in the parliamentary Labour Party are unfortunately still based
on back-room politics and not on issues. The division is not between old and new
Labour, but divisions amongst right-wing careerists and bureaucrats jockeying for
power, prestige and positions. This vote and the divisions in the Labour Party
should serve as a warning to the working class – Labour MPs sat with long
faces, looking beleaguered, while Tory MPs sat with the largest smiles on their
faces in years. It is entirely possible that if Labour continues down this road,
that the Tories could carry the day in the next general election.
Blair’s victory in parliament has not settled this matter. Top-up fees can
still be defeated. The NUS must immediately organise action including a mass
demonstration as well as appealing for support from the TUC. The NUS must begin
organising school students who are most hard-hit by this attack. A mass movement
can still defeat this bill even if some Labour rebels don’t have the backbone
to do so.
