BRITAIN:Opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats again appear ready to gamble on a confrontation with the Labour government over its plan to permit police to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith confirmed the long-awaited move yesterday while seeking to reassure MPs that any decision by her to use the power in "exceptional" circumstances would require parliamentary approval within 30 days.
Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis declared the game up for the government, saying it had "lost the argument" in favour of extending the present 28-day limit.
"They are making a proposal for something they still have not proved necessary. They have lost the argument to extend pre-charge detention beyond 28 days again and again," he said.
Liberal Democrat leadership favourite Nick Clegg also accused the government of "messy and chaotic thinking" and said what they proposed was "not easy to understand".
Calling for an early Commons statement, Mr Clegg said that the proposed mechanism would enable the suspect to be held for 42 days, with parliament only required to assent once the period had expired.
Referring to the government's problem in persuading Labour dissenters, Mr Clegg said: "The fundamental liberties and safeguards enjoyed by generations of British citizens cannot become the plaything in ever more complex horse-trading between the home secretary and her backbenchers."
However, Ms Smith insisted: "This isn't about win-win. It is about legislating for a risk I am clear does exist, chief constables are clear exists and the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation is also clear exists."