SWINDON'S two Labour MPs are more than happy for Prime Minister Tony Blair's reputation to suffer if it means making the right decisions over university top-up fees.

The Government is desperately trying to persuade an increasingly rebellious party to back plans for top-up fees and has scrapped a Commons vote until the New Year.

If the Higher Education Bill goes through as it stands students would pay top-up fees of up to £3,000 to attend universities in England and play more of an active role funding the university system.

Although this amount would not be payable until after graduation, Swindon MPs still have reservations about the thorny issue of variable top-up fees where the amount owed could differ depending on where students studied.

Some think this will lead to students applying for universities based on how much they could afford to repay rather than making a choice on academic merit.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown said: "I do think the changes, in terms of funding the current system of higher education, are better than what we have at the moment.

"It contains good things that the National Union of Students and I have welcomed, like the abolishment of up-front payments and the introduction of grants for the poorest students.

"However, I'm not yet convinced whether having variable top-up fees is the best way forward, but my decision will not be based on the party line. I will do what I think is right for Swindon and the country."

Neither Ms Drown nor Mr Wills were among the 144 rebel Labour MPs who signed a Commons motion opposing variable top-up fees. Tuesday's decision to postpone the vote until January came after the Government was facing defeat on the subject.

North Swindon MP Michael Wills said: "I hope considerable changes are made to the legislation because as it stands it could do with a lot of perfecting.

"I'm very anxious about the introduction of a market into higher education students want to be able to choose the universities and courses they want without worrying about debt.

"We should not forget that up-front fees are going and that's a very important point and students will not be repaying their debt until they are earning well in their adult life.

"I will make my decision based on what is right for the people of North Swindon and that has to be my priority.

"I have been very struck by the opinions of students I have spoken to who are opposed to top-up fees and the huge debts they might incur they should not have to worry about this wherever they choose to go."

A spokesperson for the University of Bath said: "This university believes there is a funding gap which has to be addressed.

"The University Council has decided that, should differential fees be introduced, we would have no option but to implement them, simply because of the financial implications of not doing so.

"Decisions about the actual levels of fees would be made on the basis of assessment of the market for particular programmes."