One reform too far

With the Conservative Party buoyed by the bloodless coup which has installed Michael Howard as leader, and the trepidation felt ahead of the publication of the Hutton Inquiry report, Tony Blair and his Government appear to be at their most vulnerable.

With the General Election likely to be less than two years away, Mr Blair must begin work on bolstering his own and his party's image if he is to win an historic third term in office.

Much will hinge, therefore, on the contents of the Queen's Speech, which will map out the legislative programme for probably the last full session of this Parliament.

Labour will be anxious to demonstrate that, after six-and-a-half-years in office, it has not run out of steam as far as reforms are concerned.

However, Mr Blair must be wary of putting too much store in controversial reforms. Having just, and only just, weathered the storm over foundation hospitals, he does not want to create further divisions in his own ranks in the run-up to an election.

But in pressing ahead with top-up fees for university students, Mr Blair is running head-on into widespread opposition, not only within his own party but also within the electorate.

His stubborn refusal to offer concessions on the proposal may well cost him votes.

The proposal is in direct contravention of Labour's 2001 manifesto pledge on higher education funding.

But, crucially, it is in direct contradiction of Labour's guiding principle of creating equal opportunities.

The introduction of top-up fees will discourage students from poorer backgrounds from going to university because of the fear of saddling themselves and their families with the burden of debt.

Under this particular reform there is a danger of education being transformed from a right into a privilege.

And although we fear the worst, we hope that such a retrograde step has no place in today's Queen's Speech.