Tony Blair was last night facing a make-or-break 24 hours, after Lord Hutton announced he will publish his report into the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly the day after a crunch Commons vote on the premier's tuition fees policy.

MPs will vote on the university reform package on January 27, and the next day the Hutton Report will be unveiled by the retiring law lord in a televised statement at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Rebel Labour MPs now have to decide whether to rally round Mr Blair and defuse the tuition fees issue or move in for the kill, damaging his leadership beyond repair.

Government loyalists were confident last night that most backbenchers would swing behind their leader over the shake-up in student finances rather than risk him appearing already badly wounded when he has to present the Hutton Report to Parliament in a statement the next day.

It was also confirmed last night that Mr Blair will lead for the Government in the full debate on the Hutton Report, although no date for that has yet been set.

The Government, as one of six interested parties identified by Lord Hutton, will receive a copy of his report 24 hours before publication on the strict understanding they do not divulge its contents.

Mr Blair was upbeat yesterday about the prospect of winning the university fees vote, telling his monthly Press conference he would rout the rebels.

The Prime Minister said: "The more the argument has gone on, the more people have seen that this is a bold reform, yes, but also an important one and a right one.

"And there is no point in doing the job unless you carry these things through."

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Between them, top-up fees and Lord Hutton's report could seal the fate of this Government."

* Bookmaker William Hill was last night offering odds of 20/1 that Mr Blair would quit as Prime Minister on or before January 31.