Hutton and top-up fees on the agenda

by Mike Foster - Lab

MONDAY

It was an icy blast that greeted me at Shrub Hill station, waiting for the 7.51 train to London - was this a portent of the days ahead or just a reminder that it is January, and that a chill in the air is not unusual.

The early start due to our weekly full Ministerial team meeting is today taking place at 11am not the usual 5pm.

I'm given my three key waiverers to persuade to vote with the Government on university top-up fees. During the evening, I talk to a colleague thought to be solidly against, but is ready to move - and he is put on a list for the Minister to talk to.

TUESDAY

Crunch day - the focus is on the top-up fee rebels.

But before that debate, I am leading a delegation of Worcestershire headteachers to meet Schools Minister David Miliband to discuss extra funding sources for local schools.

In the Commons, the debate on top-up fees - passionate at times, boring at others - was notable for the absence of any alternatives to the Government plans that stand up to scrutiny.

The Tory opposition now has no plans at all, which principled MPs from their side find embarrassing. For the rest it is political opportunism.

The Liberals, as always, promise someone else will pay the bill.

Phew - close shave or what. As they say in football, a win is a win.

Importantly, universities can now start to plan ahead for the future, and students can now have a better deal.

But more important for me, youngsters from estate such as Brickfields, Tolladine, Warndon, Ronkswood and Dines Green, who have never in the past thought university was for them - the doors are now open.

WEDNESDAY

H Day - Hutton Report is out. The BBC is caned.

The Prime Minister did not lie - so the scene was set for Michael Howard to apologise for making this accusation.

He didn't, and the House knew he was in the wrong.

The looks of his senior backbenchers spoke volumes about how poorly he had handled this major set piece event.

The Hutton Report was about trust - in the PM and in Government. Hutton completely vindicates the PM and further it shows no one in Government acted in bad faith.

The report could have sunk the Prime Minister.

Instead, particularly when compared to the shameful behaviour of Michael Howard, he stands in full command of Parliament.

THURSDAY

Return to Worcester, relieved the Government is still in one piece, and where necessary, lessons have been learnt.

During the week, in addition to the major political events, I have counted 132 individual letters written, 303 e-mails dealt with, let alone the phone calls made.

But on my way home I'm definitely looking forward.

The issue of bus services in Worcester beckons for my first Friday appointment!

'One of the most exciting weeks

in politics...'

By Peter Luff- Con

MONDAY

I leave Worcestershire for London without any great hopes of a Government defeat on top-up fees tomorrow - when a vote is hyped as much as this one the reality is normally less exciting.

But my job as Assistant Chief Whip means I am responsible for ensuring Conservative MPs vote.

I give - and withdraw - permission for them to be absent on business away from the Commons, so this is going to be an important week for me. I can't afford to make a mistake.

I meet The Guardian's experienced political editor, Michael White, who tells me in the queue for coffee the Government is worried.

Certainly the mood is much more excitable than I had expected, so I redouble my efforts to persuade our small group of rebels (most of whom plan to abstain) to think again. Perhaps we can just pull it off.

TUESDAY

Perhaps it's only when my mobile goes at 5.17am that I realise just how tense the day is going to be. It's the International Development Committee (with its three Conservative members) to tell me they have made it back from Africa.

Nick Brown's surprise decision to vote with the Government comes as a blow to our hopes. But by mid-afternoon it's clear Labour "rebels" are angry with him and the vote is still very close.

At the vote, one Labour MP votes twice - she went back to check the clerk had recorded her name.

My opposite number, the Labour whip, is very worried - he tells me he thinks they've lost. Eventually a few stragglers come round the corner and we realise the Government has squeaked home. A bad Bill has passed, but at what cost to the Labour Party?

Then comes the news of the leak of the Hutton report. This looks like a clumsy attempt to drive the dreadful result for the Government off the headlines. Do they never learn?

WEDNESDAY

Woken early by a call from BBC Hereford & Worcester; five minutes later I'm on air talking about last night, so I hope I sounded wide awake! At the Commons, the leaks have undermined the impact of the Hutton Report, but that doesn't stop Prime Minister's Questions being packed and tense.

THURSDAY

In my flat, listening to Michael Howard and others on the Today programme, I'm far from clear that this report is quite as good for the PM as I first thought - it's clear that the BBC is in turmoil and that the papers don't believe Hutton has got the balance right.

I fall over on the treacherous pavements on the way in, but nothing broken.

I'm left reflecting on one of the most exciting weeks I've had in Parliament. Some thought Blair would be out by the end of it - I never believed that. Some now believe it's all sunshine and roses for him - I don't believe that either. As the dust settles on the turmoil, I judge his authority will have been undermined yet again. No knock-out blow, it's true, but certainly a few more nails in the coffin. I look forward to seeing what my constituents make of it over the weekend.