Counter-terrorism Bill debated - 42 days remain unacceptable

11.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 2nd Apr 2008

The Government's Counter-Terrorism Bill was being debated by MPs yesterday. Speaking at his monthly press conference Gordon Brown said the proposed changes would not mean a "blanket extension to 42 days" on the pre-charge limit for holding suspects.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said "There are good and bad things in this bill. Good things include the use of intercept evidence in limited cases and the ability to question people after charge, but these innovations make the bad elements of the bill indefensible. We will fight tooth and nail against any further extension of the period in which people can be held without charge beyond 28 days. This would be deeply damaging to civil liberties, as well as counter-productive in the fight against terrorism by poisoning the trust that exists between minority communities and the security services. We will seek to amend the bill in committee before we agree to sacrifice the good to get rid of the ugly. I expect the key votes to be in committee and at report stage at some point in May."