Theresa May is now free to carry out reform of tuition fees after she sacked the two ministers who blocked her plans, her former chief of staff says today.

Nick Timothy says Justine Greening, the former education secretary, opposed plans for a review to cut tuition fees during her time on Whitehall, forcing the rethink into the long grass.

The Prime Minister sacked her earlier this week, prompting Ms Greening to leave the Government altogether in protest at being offered another job. She was replaced by Damian Hinds.

Alongside the former universities minister Jo Johnson, Ms Greening refused to back a wide-ranging review which could have allowed institutions to charge different fees in a bid to increase competition.

The Prime Minister announced a watered-down rethink on the eve of the party's annual conference last year but after fierce opposition from her two ministers the plans were later dropped.