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Peers to vote on anti-terror plan | Peers to vote on anti-terror plan |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The House of Lords is set to vote on whether to extend the terror detention limit to 42 days. | The House of Lords is set to vote on whether to extend the terror detention limit to 42 days. |
The government's plan, which MPs narrowly passed in June, is expected to be rejected. | The government's plan, which MPs narrowly passed in June, is expected to be rejected. |
Opponents, including the Tories and Lib Dems, argue the extension of pre-charge detentions from the current 28 days is pointless and will damage civil rights. | Opponents, including the Tories and Lib Dems, argue the extension of pre-charge detentions from the current 28 days is pointless and will damage civil rights. |
But ministers say the increasing complexity of terror plots means police need more time to deal with suspects. | But ministers say the increasing complexity of terror plots means police need more time to deal with suspects. |
'Considerable opposition' | 'Considerable opposition' |
Peers began debating the Counter-Terrorism Bill's detailed committee stage last week and are expected to vote on the 42-days plan on Monday. | |
It passed through the House of Commons by nine votes in June, with 36 Labour MPs rebelling. | It passed through the House of Commons by nine votes in June, with 36 Labour MPs rebelling. |
Conservative peer and shadow security minister, Baroness Neville Jones, told the BBC there was concerted opposition to the proposal in the Lords. | |
"I think there will be a very considerable opposition in the House of Lords. And it will come from right across the spectrum. | "I think there will be a very considerable opposition in the House of Lords. And it will come from right across the spectrum. |
"We don't want it." | "We don't want it." |
We have got to stand up for our basic freedoms Kate Allen, Amnesty International Q&A: Terror plans | We have got to stand up for our basic freedoms Kate Allen, Amnesty International Q&A: Terror plans |
Last week, the government insisted the 42-days plan would return to the Commons, with Commons Leader Harriet Harman saying it would be dealt with in the "usual way". | Last week, the government insisted the 42-days plan would return to the Commons, with Commons Leader Harriet Harman saying it would be dealt with in the "usual way". |
If peers reject the plan, ministers can use the Parliament Act to force it into legislation. | If peers reject the plan, ministers can use the Parliament Act to force it into legislation. |
But BBC political editor Nick Robinson reported last week that the government had decided against this, as it would be time-consuming and controversial. | But BBC political editor Nick Robinson reported last week that the government had decided against this, as it would be time-consuming and controversial. |
90 days | |
A Home Office spokesman said it would continue to press for the 42-day limit. | A Home Office spokesman said it would continue to press for the 42-day limit. |
"The government is determined to give the police the powers they need to tackle terrorism. | "The government is determined to give the police the powers they need to tackle terrorism. |
"That is why it is right and proper to legislate now to put in place the reserve power to go beyond 28 days if in future there is a clear operational need for it." | "That is why it is right and proper to legislate now to put in place the reserve power to go beyond 28 days if in future there is a clear operational need for it." |
Meanwhile, the human rights group Amnesty International is to run a "mass sleepwalk" through Leeds, to coincide with the launch of its film Sleepwalk aimed at highlighting what it says is a largely unnoticed erosion of liberties. | Meanwhile, the human rights group Amnesty International is to run a "mass sleepwalk" through Leeds, to coincide with the launch of its film Sleepwalk aimed at highlighting what it says is a largely unnoticed erosion of liberties. |
UK director Kate Allen said: "There's a real danger that people in Britain are sleepwalking into an assault on our human rights." | |
The government failed in 2006 to extend pre-charge terror detentions to a maximum of 90 days. Instead, the current 28-day limit was agreed as a compromise. | The government failed in 2006 to extend pre-charge terror detentions to a maximum of 90 days. Instead, the current 28-day limit was agreed as a compromise. |