A dozen Labour MPs who had signed the Commons motion opposing top-up fees are preparing to switch sides.

Former sports minister Tony Banks is among a number of MPs who said that Charles Clarke's concessions mean they are now likely to back the government.The news will be a boost to the education secretary ahead of his meeting with the Parliamentary Labour Party today.

Ministers have signalled that the vote on the second reading of the Higher Education Bill will be on January 27.

The revelation that rebels such as George Mudie are running their own whipping operation angered many backbenchers.

Stephen Pound, the MP for Ealing North, said that the rebel tactics, which included discussing how he should be "dealt with", had pushed him towards backing the government.

He likened rebel leaders Mudie and Nick Brown to "the Laurel and Hardy of whipping".

Meanwhile, Michael Howard has today accused the prime minister of a breach of trust with the voters.

Writing in the Telegraph, the Conservative leader says the Bill was a "clear breach" of Labour's 1997 manifesto.