Bill Etherington, the MP for Sunderland North, said that he would have to pay his own way to travel back from a Council of Europe meeting in Strasbourg in time for Tuesday’s crunch Commons vote on the Higher Education Bill.

Most of the 20 Labour MPs due to attend the week-long Europe meeting are seen as likely rebels. But they have been told they can receive travel expenses only if authorised by their Parliamentary whips.

MPs such as Tony Banks, who have promised to support the Bill, will have their full travel costs repaid if they return for the vote.

One Government source said yesterday: “We are in the business of getting legislation through and it would be pretty stupid if we started paying MPs who have declared their intention to vote against us.

“They should be grateful. One or two of these European Council junket trips have been held in exotic locations such as Mexico and Washington. That would have cost them even more.”

Mr Etherington said: “I oppose this Bill and will have to meet travel costs in the region of £600 to come back. It’s not a problem for me; sometimes you have to pay for your principles.” He will also lose a subsistence allowance for accommodation and meals for the time he is absent from the meeting.

Several likely rebels, including Jim Marshall and Rudi Vis, are understood to be planning to stay in Westminster until after Tuesday’s vote.

But others will miss the chance to be part of a rebelllion that threatens to inflict a Commons defeat on the Government for the first time since Labour came to power in 1997.

Those expected to abstain in Tuesday’s vote by remaining in Strasbourg are thought to include Alan Meale, who has engagements at next week’s session because of his interest in Cyprus affairs.

Tory and Liberal Democrat members attending the session in Strasbourg will not face any financial penalty if they oppose the Bill because expenses claims are authorised by their own whips, who are keen to maximise the vote against the Government.

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