Call to drop terror detention plans

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Peers issued a devastating blow to proposals that would increase pre-charge detention to 42 days from the current 28, rejecting them by a thumping majority of 191.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was due to make an unscheduled statement to Parliament as ministers face having to decide whether to try to push the Counter Terrorism Bill through with the Parliament Act - or walking away humiliated.

Former shadow home secretary David Davis, who resigned from the Commons over the measures, said they were designed not to fight terror but for political advantage.

He said: "It has been clear for some time that this proposal is based not on national security, but on party politics and the wise decision now is to let this unwise proposal drop.

"This would be in the interests of national security and civil liberties."

Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti said ministers were in a hole and should "stop digging".

"The Upper House has demonstrated why Britain is the oldest unbroken democracy on Earth," she said.

"Common decency says we don't lock people up for six weeks without charge. Common sense should tell the Government that when you're in a hole and you've lost the argument - stop digging."

The Government was defeated by a cross-party coalition which included former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer and ex-Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who said the 42-day measure was "pernicious" and "dangerous".