THE coalition Government has won its battle to increase tuition fees to up to �9,000.

THE coalition Government has won its battle to increase tuition fees to up to �9,000.

MPs have tonight voted in favour of the change - although they had a reduced majority of just 21.

It comes in the face of fierce opposition, with students protesting across the country.

Students from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) travelled to London to plead with MPs – including Ipswich’s Ben Gummer and Bury’s David Ruffley – not to vote in favour of increased tuition fees.

Hundreds of students also marched through Ipswich in protest at the plan.

But their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

However students have vowed to continue the fight.

Andy Speed, president of UCS Union, said: “Unfortunately it was what we were expecting. The vote was very close. The White Paper, which will discuss the finer details, will be looked at in January, so we now just have to wait and see what happens. It’s certainly not the end. We need to make sure we get the best outcome we possibly can.”

Jason Henderson, vice president of Colchester Institute’s Student’s Union, said the vote was “ludicrous”.

He said he was pleased rge town’s Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell has kept his word and voted against the rise - but called for those who had gone against their promise to face a by- election.

“They have not listened at all,” he continued. “We will comntinue to fight. We have lost the battle but not the war.”