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Mr Baker suggested he could step down from the government in order to oppose the rises, while backbenchers are causing the leadership further headaches by urging the postponement of Thursday's crunch vote. Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg is due to make a last-ditch effort to head off a crisis when he addresses his parliamentary party tomorrow night. Lib Dem grandee Lord Ashdown has also appealed for MPs not to breach the coalition agreement by voting against the plans, while Downing Street warned that the principle of collective responsibility for ministers still applied. However, there were signs that opposition within the party was hardening despite efforts to strike a deal. Asked on BBC One South East's Politics Show whether he would be backing the change or abstaining, Mr Baker said: ''Or voting against. There are three options and, to be honest with you, I genuinely haven't decided.'' He added: ''It's an option if you resign. There are three options on the table and I haven't yet decided what I'm going to do.'' His comments come as a small group of Liberal Democrat backbenchers attempt to postpone Thursday's crucial vote on the issue. Greg Mulholland is leading the effort to push a fourth option of calling off the vote, so that a full public consultation on the future of university funding in England can be carried out ahead of a Government White Paper in 2011. "It is not in anyone's interests to do this at this stage," Mr Mulholland told The Guardian. "Sometimes the most courageous thing to do is to admit you need a rethink. The best thing for higher education is not to force this vote through on Thursday." Mr Mulholland has tabled an early-day motion in the Commons, which has so far gained the support only of fellow Lib Dem John Leech and Green MP Caroline Lucas. But he is hoping to persuade the Lib Dem leadership - and their Conservative coalition partners - that delay is the best way of avoiding a damaging split which could do serious harm to the Government's stability. Ministers yesterday tried to shore up support for the university funding package by unveiling £150 million worth of help, which could see fees waived for one or two years for 18,000 of the poorest students. Under the National Scholarship Programme, young people eligible for free school meals who secure a place in university will have their first year's fees paid by the state. Universities which charge more than £6,000 a year in fees will be required to fund these students for a second year.
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Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was facing mounting pressure over tuition fees today after Norman Baker, the transport minister, hinted he could resign over the issue.