Smith confident of support for Bill

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's crucial second reading vote on the Counter-Terrorism Bill, Ms Smith said the Government would get enough support.

She called on MPs to "take their responsibilities seriously" and said she "believed and hoped" the Government would win the argument.

As Gordon Brown faces the threat of his first defeat since taking over as Prime Minister, Ms Smith said she had been getting a "good response" from Labour MPs, some of whom she had been meeting individually.

She told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show: "I hope parliamentarians will take their responsibility seriously to give those that we task with keeping us safe from terrorism the tools that we need to do it.

She added: "I have been talking to people individually and I think we are getting a good response for the way in which we have gone about dealing with this.

"I need to make the argument to Parliament. As Home Secretary my responsibility is to do what I believe...is necessary to protect this country from the serious, sustained, and in some ways growing threat from international terrorism."

Asked if she would resign if the Government failed to get its plans through she said: "I will take my responsibilities seriously to make the case to Parliament. I believe that we will successful."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne accused Gordon Brown and Ms Smith of "bashing their heads against a brick wall" on 42 days.

"I find it quite bizarre - the Government on the evidence is heading for a train crash on this attempt to extend the detention without charge from 28 days to 42 days," he told Sky News. "There is no evidence, nothing has changed whatsoever to suggest that we need to go beyond 28 days."