The Cabinet has met to discuss next week's knife-edge vote on university top-up fees.

Chief whip Hilary Armstrong updated senior ministers on the vote at an overrunning Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

With the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Ulster Unionists apparently united in their opposition to the Higher Education Bill, Labour can afford no more than 81 of its own MPs to vote against the student funding package on Tuesday.

According to press reports, some 85 rebels remain "dug in" against the government.

Following the meeting Downing Street said there was "not a flicker of complacency around the Cabinet table".

"Everyone recognises that there is a lot of dialogue to be had with party colleagues," the prime minister's official spokesman added.

And home secretary David Blunkett told the Times that ministers still need to win over more rebels.

"We have to convince our own troops," he said. "It is absolutely clear that we are still not there."

Charles Clarke and chief whip Hilary Armstrong have the lead roles in winning the vote - but the prime minister has taken on a heavy load of his own.

This week he has held a series of meetings with small groups of critics as well as addressing the entire parliamentary Labour Party and taking part in a BBC Newsnight special on the subject.

The official spokesman said he "will clearly be talking to people between now and Tuesday".

"I think every member of the Cabinet will," he added.