Smith faces revolt over terror laws
Updated on 01 April 2008
The Government is facing a ferocious battle over plans to increase custody time limits for terror suspects.
Ministers want to extend the length of time supposed terrorists can be held without charge from 28 to 42 days.
MPs gave the Counter-Terrorism Bill an unopposed second reading after six hours of debate.
But Tories, Liberal Democrats and even Labour backbenchers are set to oppose the legislation when it comes back before Parliament.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "As the threat from terrorism evolves, so our laws must adapt to remain effective.
"The response of the law cannot remain frozen when the scale and nature of the threat grows.
"The ferocity and complexity of today's terrorist threat means there is a corresponding need for our law enforcement agencies to intervene early and then find and process what can be very large quantities of seized material."
But shadow home secretary David Davis said a change in the law would put Britain in the same league as countries like China and Zimbabwe, adding: "There is not one shred of evidence for extension beyond 28 days - full stop."
Former Labour minister Chris Mullin told Ms Smith: "The Director of Public Prosecutions does not want the powers you are determined to thrust upon him."
And Labour backbencher David Winnick accused the Government of hitting on 42 days because it was the number most likely to get through the Commons.
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