Oxford University has today become the first university in the country to pass a motion of No Confidence in the government. Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts received the vote from the university following his unpopular and controversial higher education funding reforms. An Oxford Professor has described the reforms as "reckless, incoherent and incompetent".

The debate and vote took place this afternoon in the famous Parliament of Dons where the motion was backed by 283 members of the congregation, five academics opposed. This will be a crushing blow to David Willetts, himself a graduate of the prestigious institution.

The BBC reported a “packed auditorium” and “cheers from inside and from student protesters outside” as the motion was carried.

The academics spent time listening to speeches condemning the privatisation of universities and the inevitable budget cuts. Last year’s removal of the cap on tuition fees, meaning that a large number of institutions will be raising their fees to £9,000 per year, was central to the decision made in Oxford today.

Oxford's vice-chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, will now have to write to the government to tell them of the no-confidence vote. A group of academics and students from the university have also set in motion a country-wide campaign to persuade more academic institutions to put forward no-confidence votes in Mr Willetts.

Shadow Universities Minister Gareth Thomas said: "This is a devastating and unprecedented vote, with Oxford academics confirming what a series of independent experts and the Public Accounts Committee have already made clear; that 80% cuts, trebling tuition fees and cuts to research facilities are unfair, unnecessary and unsustainable."

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spoke to the THES, “Universities have always been bastions of free speech and debate.”

“However, our student and university finance reforms are fairer than the present system and affordable for the nation.”

“No student will be asked to pay upfront costs; there will be more financial support for poorer students; and those who go on to earn the highest incomes will make the largest contributions after they have graduated. Our reforms put students in the driving seat while putting universities on a sustainable footing for the future.”