10/06/2008

Brown Expected To Face Tough Vote Over Terror Laws

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is expected to face a tough battle as the government continues to try and secure support for its controversial anti-terror plans, as MPs begin debating the package.

MPs will vote on controversial plans to increase the period that suspects can be held without charge to 42 days on Wednesday. The vote is widely expected to be tight and there is speculation that the vote could be so close that the result could depend on how the nine DUP MPs vote.

Meanwhile, Scotland's chief legal officer, Lord Advocate Eilish Angiolini has become the latest person to speak out against increasing the detention time limit. She told the Herald newspaper that "the requirement for an extension to the current 28 days is not supported by prosecution experience to date".

A protest against the plans to increase the detention time limit has been organised by human rights pressure group Liberty to take place outside the Commons tomorrow.

(KMcA/JM)

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