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Brown accused over 42-days letter Row over 42-vote 'reward' letter
(about 4 hours later)
The prime minister has been asked to clarify comments that a senior Labour MP may be "appropriately rewarded" for his support on the 42-days vote. Labour MP Keith Vaz has dismissed suggestions he was offered incentives to vote for the controversial 42-day limit on pre-charge detention.
David Cameron said the leaked letter from Labour chief whip Geoff Hoon to Keith Vaz showed Gordon Brown's "inability to be straight with people". It follows exchanges between Gordon Brown and David Cameron, over a letter suggesting Mr Vaz may be "appropriately rewarded" for his support.
Mr Cameron raised the letter after the PM said "no deals were done" to win the controversial anti-terror laws vote. Mr Vaz is chairman of the home affairs committee, which had previously been sceptical about the case for 42 days.
Mr Brown said it was simply a thank you for doing "exactly the right thing". He later told the BBC the letter had been "totally lighthearted".
During prime minister's questions, Mr Cameron referred to a letter published in the Daily Telegraph, from Mr Hoon to Mr Vaz - chairman of the home affairs committee which had previously criticised the plan to hold terrorism suspects for up to 42 days, without charge. And he dismissed as "ridiculous" suggestions that he was offered a peerage or a knighthood to vote with the government on the controversial counter-terrorism legislation.
'Appropriately rewarded' I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help. I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded Letter from Geoff Hoon to Keith Vaz
The letter, dated 12 June - the day after the government narrowly won the vote - said: "Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday's vote. I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help. I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded." During prime minister's questions, Conservative leader Mr Cameron referred to a handwritten letter published on the Daily Telegraph's website minutes earlier, from Mr Hoon to Mr Vaz.
The letter, dated 12 June - the day after the government narrowly won the vote on extending the limit for holding terrorism suspects without charge - said: "Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday's vote.
"I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help. I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded."
'The right thing'
Mr Cameron asked: "Will the prime minister confirm what he said on the 42 days vote, that no deals were done, no jobs were offered and no rewards were promised?"Mr Cameron asked: "Will the prime minister confirm what he said on the 42 days vote, that no deals were done, no jobs were offered and no rewards were promised?"
When Mr Brown replied "yes" - Mr Cameron brought up the letter and asked what Mr Hoon had meant by "appropriately rewarded".When Mr Brown replied "yes" - Mr Cameron brought up the letter and asked what Mr Hoon had meant by "appropriately rewarded".
The prime minister explained: "That we thanked the chairman of the Home Affairs committee for doing exactly the right thing ... voting with the government." Don't take people for fools, tell us the truth, what did he mean? David Cameron
Mr Cameron said it demonstrated the prime minister's "complete inability to be straight with people" and suggested Mr Hoon, who was also in the Commons, should be "wriggling with embarrassment"". The prime minister explained: "That we thanked the chairman of the Home Affairs committee for doing exactly the right thing... voting with the government."
Mr Cameron said it demonstrated the prime minister's "complete inability to be straight with people" and suggested Mr Hoon, who was also in the Commons, should be "wriggling with embarrassment".
He asked Mr Brown: "Don't take people for fools, tell us the truth, what did he mean?"He asked Mr Brown: "Don't take people for fools, tell us the truth, what did he mean?"
Mr Brown replied: "He meant that he was thanking the chairman of the home affairs committee for doing exactly the right thing. Narrow win
Mr Brown replied: "He meant that he was thanking the chairman of the home affairs committee for doing exactly the right thing."
He began to say "if he has any allegation to make" but was interrupted by Speaker Michael Martin, who brought the exchanges to a halt.He began to say "if he has any allegation to make" but was interrupted by Speaker Michael Martin, who brought the exchanges to a halt.
The government won the vote on extending pre-charge detention limits for terrorism suspects by just nine votes.The government won the vote on extending pre-charge detention limits for terrorism suspects by just nine votes.
Mr Vaz, who also denied rumours he had been offered a knighthood during the Commons debate leading up to the vote on terror detention limits, told the BBC the letter was "totally lighthearted" and said that it was totally normal for whips to write to backbenchers after important votes. He said that the row showed that Mr Cameron was "clutching at straws".
And Communities Secretary Hazel Blears told the BBC's Daily Politics: "If you look at Keith Vaz's position on the 42 days he was always going to support it - this wasn't a case of, you know, 'if you vote with us, we will offer you this'."
She said the government had moved closer to the suggestions made by the home affairs committee, in "significant changes" made to the Counter-Terrorism Bill.