Labour rebels failed again tonight to derail the Government's controversial plans for student top-up fees.
A backbench bid to block universities from charging different fees up to a £3,000 cap was defeated by 316 votes to 288, Government majority 28.
After a tense and emotional debate, the result will come as a relief to the Prime Minister and Education Secretary Mr Charles Clarke.
The majority was more than five times the previous margin on the Higher Education Bill's second reading in January.
Mr Blair saw his 161 majority slashed to just five then as 72 Labour MPs rebelled in the closest vote of his premiership.
Before tonight's vote Mr Clarke signalled that he regarded the amendment on variable fees tabled by Labour's Ian Gibson as a "wrecking" amendment and had threatened to withdraw the Bill entirely if it was passed.
Around 1,000 students staged a demonstration against fees outside Parliament as MPs debated the Bill's report stage.
The protesters tied hundreds of "price tags" on to the railings at Westminster, each carrying an individual's name and the size of their debt.