U.K. Terror Detention Plans Nixed

The defeat marks an end to a three year battle started in the wake of the 7/7 bombings
(Photo from The Times Online)

House Of Lords Deals Fatal Blow To 42-Day
Terror Detention Plans -- Times Online

Plans to give police up to 42 days to question terrorism suspects were crushed by the House of Lords last night, halting a three-year, high-wire political battle begun in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings.

The Government conceded defeat after peers voted against the measure by 309 votes to 118 – the biggest loss since hereditary peers were forced to give up their seats in 1999 – and in a humiliating climbdown announced that the provision would be removed from the Counter-Terrorism Bill.

This came after opposition to the proposals from all quarters, with 24 Labour rebels including two former Lord Chancellors, Lord Irvine of Lairg and Lord Falconer of Thoroton, as well as Baroness Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5, Lord Justice Woolf, the former Lord Chief Justice, and Lord Condon, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The Government moved swiftly to limit its embarrassment and in an emergency Commons statement last night, Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, announced that the 42-day proposal would be published in a separate draft Bill that could be voted on in the event of a national emergency.

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My Comment: So much for fighting against terrorists. The U.K. is setting themselves up for a mess if extremist groups are successful in conducting a major terror attack against Britain in the future. A compromised bill should have been worked out .... unity on these matters of national security are always important.