A leader of British Labour Party rebels planning to defeat the government over its controversial education plans has decided at the last minute to back Mr Tony Blair in tonight's vote on university top-up fees.
"The concessions that the government have made are good enough for me," former cabinet minister Mr Nick Brown told the Guardian Unlimitedwebsite today. "I'll be supporting the government tonight."
Mr Brown, a respected Labour veteran, could well bring other malcontents with him although the vote, due at 7 p.m., remains on a knife edge and Mr Blair could still suffer his first major defeat in parliament.
His late change of heart, from implacable opposition to Mr Blair's proposal to allow universities to charge students more, could have come at the urging of his old friend, Chancellor Gordon Brown.
"Gordon has really been getting to work," one Labour Party source said.
Mr Brown, who holds appeal for left-wing traditionalists who distrust the prime minister, worked with Mr Blair yesterday to win over Labour rebels.
Rejection of his education reforms and harsh criticism in judge Lord Hutton's report on the death of David Kelly could leave the premier wounded, perhaps even fatally.