Campaigners joy at 42-day defeat

Jacqui Smith on the government's defeat Civil liberties campaigners are celebrating after the government was forced to shelve the most controversial part of its counter-terrorism policy. Plans to extend pre-charge detention from 28 days to 42 were defeated in the House of Lords by 191 votes. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is now set to push on with the Counter Terrorism Bill minus the 42-days proposal. Labour rebels have warned that any attempt to resurrect the idea will be resisted steadfastly. Former Labour Attorney General Lord Goldsmith said the climbdown was "absolutely the right decision" as the measure was "not only unnecessary but also dangerous". The Home Secretary's alternative legislation was a non-starter unless there was an extremely different scenario facing the UK, he added. "I think what happened today... [read full story]