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Terror concessions being planned | Terror concessions being planned |
(10 minutes later) | |
The government is preparing to offer Labour MPs a major concession to avoid losing a vote on terror detentions, the BBC has learned. | The government is preparing to offer Labour MPs a major concession to avoid losing a vote on terror detentions, the BBC has learned. |
Ministers want to extend the limit suspects can be held without charge to 42 days, which many Labour MPs oppose. | Ministers want to extend the limit suspects can be held without charge to 42 days, which many Labour MPs oppose. |
To avoid losing a Commons vote, the government is to suggest halving the period during which police can enact these extra powers from 60 to 30 days. | To avoid losing a Commons vote, the government is to suggest halving the period during which police can enact these extra powers from 60 to 30 days. |
The BBC's James Landale said this was a "significant concession". | The BBC's James Landale said this was a "significant concession". |
The government is facing a tough parliamentary battle to extend the limit on holding terror suspects without charge. | |
The Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour rebels oppose moving beyond the current 28-day limit, which could see Prime Minister Gordon Brown lose a Commons vote. | |
The temporary powers granted to police would - under the Terror Bill as currently drafted - last for a maximum of 60 days before expiring automatically. | |
At the end of that period, any suspect who had been detained for longer than 28 days would have to be charged or released. | |
But ministers are now preparing to reduce the period during which the police have the extra powers to 30 days. | |
Our correspondent said: "This is a significant concession because it curtails police powers rather than improving the scrutiny of the way they are agreed." | |
"We remain in consensus mode. This is too serious to leave to partisan politics," said Home Office Minister Tony McNulty. | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he would rather "do the right thing" and lose, than back down on the 42-day limit. |