Labour MPs debate terror stance

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Labour MPs threatening to rebel over plans to extend the time terror suspects can be held without charge are to meet to discuss their position.

They will be addressed by Shami Chakrabarti, director of the pressure group Liberty, and one of the most high-profile opponents to the measures.

About 50 backbenchers are said to be ready to defy ministers in a crucial Commons vote next week.

The government has offered concessions but says it is not certain of winning.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats also oppose the plan to extend the maximum time terror suspects can be held without charge from 28 to 42 days.

Amendments

This raises the prospect of Gordon Brown suffering his first Commons defeat since becoming prime minister last year.

Labour MPs are studying proposed amendments to the Counter Terrorism Bill, published by the Home Office.

The main concessions are:

<ul class="bulletList"><li>MPs must vote on whether to grant police the new powers within seven days of an application rather than 30</li>

<li>The 42-day limit can only be made available in the event of a grave exceptional threat</li>

<li>The time the higher limit is available is reduced from 60 days to 30 days.</li></ul>

Despite the concessions, BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said there was a "significant number of Labour backbenchers who are absolutely determined to vote against the 42-day proposal".

"The stakes now are so high it's almost unthinkable for the government to lose," he said.

Ms Chakrabarti dismissed the proposed amendments as "fig leaves".

"Forty-two days' detention without charge has not been transformed into the emergency power promised by ministers. The policy is as dangerous as ever," she said.

'More to do'

Even with these changes the power could still become "routine, triggered for operational convenience in individual cases", she added.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who addressed Labour MPs on Monday, said: "I hope we've moved to a set of proposals people feel able to support."

But the prime minister's spokesman said it was "certainly not the case that this vote is in the bag and there is more to do over the days ahead".

The outcome of the vote may depend on smaller parties such as the DUP, which voted against the government three years ago on plans to extend pre-charge terror detentions to 90 days.

The DUP has yet to decide on 42 days and the new package of amendments.

The loss of the 90-days vote in 2005 was Tony Blair's first Commons defeat as prime minister.