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Government terror bill rejected by Lords
14/10/2008
A government proposal to tighten the UK's anti-terror laws has been rejected in the House of Lords.
The Counter-Terrorism Bill would have allowed police in Britain to hold those suspected of terrorism for up to 42 days without charge - an extra 14 days on top of the current limit of 28 days.
Lords voted 309 to 118 against the bill, which many commentators had expected.
Senior lords had criticised the proposals, saying they violated civil liberties and were not in keeping with the terror detention limits of other western democracies, reports Reuters.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said she was disappointed by the rejection and said that the Lords were getting the balance between liberties and the rule of law wrong, which may interest solicitors.
She said: "For me there is no greater individual liberty than the liberty for individuals not to be blown up on British streets or in British skies."
Former lord chancellor Lord Falconer told the Guardian he had decided to vote against his government with a "heavy heart".
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The Counter-Terrorism Bill would have allowed police in Britain to hold those suspected of terrorism for up to 42 days without charge - an extra 14 days on top of the current limit of 28 days.
Lords voted 309 to 118 against the bill, which many commentators had expected.
Senior lords had criticised the proposals, saying they violated civil liberties and were not in keeping with the terror detention limits of other western democracies, reports Reuters.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said she was disappointed by the rejection and said that the Lords were getting the balance between liberties and the rule of law wrong, which may interest solicitors.
She said: "For me there is no greater individual liberty than the liberty for individuals not to be blown up on British streets or in British skies."
Former lord chancellor Lord Falconer told the Guardian he had decided to vote against his government with a "heavy heart".
Contact us for legal advice
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