42 days a small price to pay to defend our liberties

GORDON Brown struggles each week to fend off attacks not only from the Tories, Liberal Democrats, a motley crew of dissident Labour MPs, and the media. But on the thorny issue of 42 detention without charge, he is absolutely right.

Locking someone up for six weeks is a big step to take. But if 28 days was deemed right by the Commons, an extra 14 days is not indefensible. As long as suspects retain the right to proper and frequent legal representation, 42 is surely reasonable, especially if it stops an outrage by insurgents who enjoy killing and maiming and do not mind if they die themselves in the process of perpetrating atrocities.

As Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, the former Commissioner of the metropolitan police, wrote this week:  "It is the duty of those of us wgo have been on the front line - losing sleep, working through the night onthese cases to thwart attacks - to put forward the argument for this extra power.

Supporting him were two senior and well respected peeresses. Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale - who worked for MI6 during the so-called Cold War, said: "There is no question there will be more terrorist attacks in future, it's not a question of if, it's when. Voting against 42 days increases the odds in favour of the terrorists."

Baroness Park of Monmouth, who was one of MI6's most senior controllers for more than 30 years, said MPs should recognise that prosecutors need longer to sift evidence because of the global inquires that had to be made."

Gordon Brown won the vote by nine votes. Opponents insist he has been further weakened by the size of the Labour revolt. The Prime Minister has made a stand for our freedoms and for that he should have the full support of us all.