STUDENTS are threatening to vote against Bolton MP Ruth Kelly at the next general election for backing the introduction of university top-up fees.

Wayne Taylor, the out-going president of Bolton Institute's Students Union, said undergraduates would fight to remove MPs such as Ms Kelly for supporting controversial plans to allow universities to charge students up to £3,000 a year.

Mr Taylor criticised Ms Kelly - who is MP for Bolton West - for supporting the new fees. He says they will have dire financial consequences for students.

He said most graduates would take 25 years to repay their loan or have it 'written off'.

Women, he added, were expected to take twice as long due to the nature of discrimination in the work place and an estimated 15 per cent less pay on average compared to their male counterparts.

He said similar schemes in New Zealand had had a dramatic impact on the number - and range - of students able to go to university.

Students from more financially secure backgrounds were five times more likely to go to university.

The National Union of Students across the country is threatening to vote against MPs who are in favour of top up fees.

Ms Kelly, defended the government reforms, saying they will benefit many students.

"The government's higher education reforms will remove up-front payments and re-inroduce grants for those who need it the most," she said. "This will clearly benefit many students."