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No 10 'to push ahead on 42-days' | No 10 'to push ahead on 42-days' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Downing Street insists it is pushing ahead with attempts to extend terror detention without charge to 42 days. | Downing Street insists it is pushing ahead with attempts to extend terror detention without charge to 42 days. |
Gordon Brown's official spokesman said the prime minister believed this was the "right thing to do". | |
The BBC understands ministers have warned it would be "politically suicidal" to try to force the measure through against the wishes of peers. | |
No 10 declined to answer "hypothetical" questions about whether the measure would be dropped if peers reject it. | No 10 declined to answer "hypothetical" questions about whether the measure would be dropped if peers reject it. |
The plan scraped through the Commons and is due before the House of Lords next week, where it is expected to be defeated. | |
Governments can use the Parliament Act to force through measures even if peers reject them - but it is a controversial, time-consuming and rarely used process. | |
The Times reported on Monday that the government had decided against using the act. | |
But Downing Street insists it will not shelve plans to extend the detention limit to 42 days, which are opposed by the Conservatives, Lib Dems and some Labour MPs. | |
They have also warned him that to use the Parliament Act to drive the bill through would be politically suicidal Nick Robinson BBC political editor Read Nick's thoughts in full | They have also warned him that to use the Parliament Act to drive the bill through would be politically suicidal Nick Robinson BBC political editor Read Nick's thoughts in full |
In June, MPs passed the proposal by 315 votes to 306, despite a rebellion by 36 Labour backbenchers - after nine DUP MPs backed the government. The prime minister denied opposition claims they had effectively been bought off with inducements. | |
Several amendments were made before the Commons vote to win over Labour MPs. | Several amendments were made before the Commons vote to win over Labour MPs. |
Former MI5 head Baroness Manningham-Buller criticised the plan for not being "in any way workable" during her maiden speech in the Lords in July. | |
And last week Europe's human rights body expressed concerns and said suspects should be taken to prison after 14 days, as police cells were not suitable for longer detention. | And last week Europe's human rights body expressed concerns and said suspects should be taken to prison after 14 days, as police cells were not suitable for longer detention. |
The government argues there may be occasions when a suspect has to be held for longer than 28 days before a charge can be brought, because of the increasing complexity and scale of the terrorist threat. |