BOLTON MP Brian Iddon forced a dramatic Commons showdown with Education Minister Charles Clarke yesterday and told him: "I will not back your plans for top-up fees."

Dr Iddon said he believes the move will lead to a two-tier education system and mean poorer students will miss out on better universities.

The Bolton South-east MP, and his Labour colleague, David Crausby, representing Bolton North-east, are refusing to soften their stance on plans to allow colleges to charge top-up fees of up to £3,000 a year.

Mr Clarke offered a series of concessions including capping fees until the end of the next Parliament and rasing grants for the poorest students to £1,500 a year. All student debt will also be written off after 25 years, he promised.

But Dr Iddon and Mr Crausby are preparing to join a Labour back-bench rebellion of about 120 MPs threatening to bring down the plans unless further concessions are made.

After the debate, Dr Iddon said: "The variability principle is still there and I cannot support that."

Mr Crausby said: "I am not too bothered about students contributing towards going to university as long as they are not charged so much that they are deterred from going."

However, Ruth Kelly, MP for Bolton West, backed the Government. She said: "I welcome the publication of proposals abolishing up-front fees and giving financial assistance to students from the poorest backgrounds."