COLCHESTER MP Bob Russell has defied his Lib Dem leadership and voted against a tuition fees rise.

But his intervention was not enough, as plans to hike annual university tuition fees to up to £9,000 were narrowly passed - 323 votes to 302 He said: “Quite simply, although it could be argued that the total package is a big improvement on the tuition fees and subsequent top-up fees introduced by the last Labour Government – which I opposed – I wish to uphold the pledge that I gave before the General Election, namely that I would not vote in favour of higher tuition fees.

“A lot has happened since May 7, of course, notably the discovery of the massive financial mess left by the last Labour Government.

“That said, I have long believed in education being free – for all ages, from pre-school groups through to adult education – and I consider that raising tuition fees is not something I can support.”

Conservative MPs Bernard Jenkin, Douglas Carswell and Priti Patel all backed their party’s plans.

Mrs Patel said: “These plans will make paying off tuition fees more manageable and affordable for graduates and by increasing the income threshold for repayment to £21,000 a year, we are protecting those graduates on the lowest wages, whilst also reducing everybody else’s monthly repayments by up to £45.”