THE HOUSE of Commons has voted to increase student fees up to £9,000.
However, despite the government's majority of 84 seats, the vote was won by just 21.
In total, 323 voted in favour, 302 against with 21 abstentions.
A rebellion of some 60 MPs from the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition was not enough to stop the bill, but is a major sign of worry for the government.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said he was ''proud'' of the Government's package, which will allow English universities to treble fees from 2012.
Mr Cable, a Lib Dem, insisted the plan was ''progressive'' and would ''maintain high quality universities in the long term''.
The vote followed a fractious five-hour debate and took place as protesters opposed to the rise in fees clashed with police in the streets outside Parliament.
The government's majority of 21 was exactly the same number of Lib Dem MPs that voted in favour of the plan.
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