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Terror laws face Commons battle | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The government has been warned to expect tough opposition to its plans to extend the time limit on holding terror suspects without charge. | |
Its Counter Terrorism Bill passed its first hurdle in the Commons but Lib Dems, Tories and some Labour MPs say they will fight parts of it later on. | |
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insisted she wanted a "reserve power" not a permanent extension from 28 to 42 days. | |
But Chris Huhne said the Lib Dems would fight the proposal "tooth and nail". | |
The Bill was given an unopposed second reading earlier and will go to committee stage where MPs will scrutinise the detail. | |
Opening the debate Ms Smith said the proposal on pre-charge detention was a "wholly different model" to the planned 90-day limit that was defeated in the Commons in 2005. | |
She said the terrorist threat was of an "unprecedented scale" and the sheer weight and amount of material that had to be gone through - often of an international nature - presented a new challenge to investigators. | |
'Clear need' | 'Clear need' |
"As the threat from terrorism evolves, so our laws must adapt to remain effective," she said. | "As the threat from terrorism evolves, so our laws must adapt to remain effective," she said. |
She said the government had moved a "considerable way" from the original 90-days option. | |
There is no proposal for a blanket extension to 42 days - that is a myth and that is wrong Gordon Brown | There is no proposal for a blanket extension to 42 days - that is a myth and that is wrong Gordon Brown |
Ms Smith said: "We are not now proposing a permanent, automatic or immediate extension to pre-charge detention beyond the current maximum limit of 28 days. | Ms Smith said: "We are not now proposing a permanent, automatic or immediate extension to pre-charge detention beyond the current maximum limit of 28 days. |
"We are proposing a reserve power - not to be used lightly - that would mean that a higher limit could only become available if there was a clear and exceptional operational need, supported by the police and the CPS, and approved by the home secretary." | "We are proposing a reserve power - not to be used lightly - that would mean that a higher limit could only become available if there was a clear and exceptional operational need, supported by the police and the CPS, and approved by the home secretary." |
She said it would be subject to Parliamentary approval within 30 days, a senior judge would decide whether someone was held - and she pledged to continue a "consensus building approach" as the Bill continues its Parliamentary progress. | |
'No evidence' | 'No evidence' |
But some Labour backbenchers remain unconvinced by the arguments - and are expected to vote against the Counter-Terrorism Bill during the later stages of its passage through Parliament. | But some Labour backbenchers remain unconvinced by the arguments - and are expected to vote against the Counter-Terrorism Bill during the later stages of its passage through Parliament. |
We on these benches will fight tooth and nail against these provisions which we believe to prove to be a serious erosion of hard-won freedoms Chris HuhneLiberal Democrats | |
Labour's Bob Marshall-Andrews, a QC, said the government had produced "simply no evidence whatsoever" to back the Bill. | |
For the Conservatives, David Davis also told MPs: "There is not one shred of evidence for extension beyond 28 days - full stop." | |
While he said ministers conjured up "nightmare scenarios" - but there was already a solution, to use the Civil Contingencies Act. | While he said ministers conjured up "nightmare scenarios" - but there was already a solution, to use the Civil Contingencies Act. |
And he said while the Conservatives would support parts of the Bill - such as allowing post-charge questioning - extending the pre-charge detention period up to 42 days could act as a "recruiting sergeant" for terrorists. | And he said while the Conservatives would support parts of the Bill - such as allowing post-charge questioning - extending the pre-charge detention period up to 42 days could act as a "recruiting sergeant" for terrorists. |
Police support | Police support |
For the Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne said aspects of the Bill were deeply intrusive to "hard won civil liberties". | For the Liberal Democrats, Chris Huhne said aspects of the Bill were deeply intrusive to "hard won civil liberties". |
He praised proposals such as the limited use of intercept evidence but attacked the proposal to allow pre-charge detention to be extended. | He praised proposals such as the limited use of intercept evidence but attacked the proposal to allow pre-charge detention to be extended. |
"We on these benches will fight tooth and nail against these provisions which we believe to prove to be a serious erosion of hard-won freedoms, just as crucially it will prove to be counter productive," he said. | |
But Labour former minister Frank Field criticised MPs who wanted to "remain passive and see what the terrorists inflict on us and then react accordingly". | |
Earlier Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "There is no proposal for a blanket extension to 42 days. That is a myth and that is wrong." | |
The proposals are supported by some senior police officers - but could face a court challenge from the Equality and Human Rights Commission if passed. | |