World | UK
Brown steers away from anti-terror Bill
Gordon Brown on Monday began an embarrassing retreat on his plan to hold terrorist suspects for up to 42 days without charge.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:43 October 7, 2008
London: Gordon Brown on Monday began an embarrassing retreat on his plan to hold terrorist suspects for up to 42 days without charge.
The flagship anti-terrorism legislation will be allowed to die when, as expected, it is defeated in the Lords, government sources indicated.
It means that months of parliamentary debate, a Labour rebellion, a searing row between ministers and the civil liberties lobby plus a curious by-election that cost David Davis his frontbench career may have been for nothing.
Downing Street yesterday insisted that the prime minister remains committed to the 42-day detention proposal. But when asked if he was still prepared to invoke the Parliament Act to steamroll it onto the statute books, the official spokesman refused to "get into hypotheticals".
Uneasy
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who led the fight to push the 42-day detention plan through the Commons was also said to be uneasy at the thought of having to do so a second time if the Parliament Act was invoked. Chief Whip Nick Brown argued that it could cause a serious split in Labour.
Sources confirmed that Brown now wanted to be seen to be focusing on the economic crisis.
Share this article
UK
Tough love moulds young minds best
Wanted man sends in replacement photo
Two British ticketholders share £90m jackpot
Mum dies trying to save son from blaze
Meeting the Queen with pen tucked behind ear!
Brown under fire over Afghanistan policies
Politician could get time in prison after admitting expenses scam
Call for scientific advisers to be free from interference
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Ajtebi's phenomenal assent
The former camel jockey was at the peak of his powers when upstaging Garret Gomez
-
US pushing for more aid to Philippines
Obama administration eyeing $667m security assistance package
-
Mohammad launches H1N1 campaign
Shaikh Mohammad was the first one to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
