Clegg welcome rejection of Terror detention extension proposals

8.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 17th Dec 2007

Government attempts to rally support for an extension of police powers to detention without trial from 28 to 42 days received a further blow from MPs and peers. The joint Lords-Commons committee on human rights said in a report that evidence from the Crown Prosecution Service that it was satisfied with the present limit "seems devastating to the government's case for an extension". Its verdict came less than 24 hours after a similar verdict in a report from the Commons home affairs select committee, that there was as yet "no evidence" for the limit to be increased. Only six of the 71 formal submissions to ministers have been in favour of extension.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Nick Clegg said "With this report the consensus against the extension of 28 days grows stronger still. The fact that this is an all-party committee with a majority of Labour members on it surely spells the end for Gordon Brown's misguided attempt to play tough on terrorism."