At last some good news for Gordon Brown. The Labour rebellion against plans to allow police to detain suspected terrorists for 42 days without charge appears to be fading tonight. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith won plaudits after offering more concessions to Labour MPs when she addressed their weekly meeting just now. She also warned them of the grave political conferences of defeating the Government. Smith said: "We have gone a million miles. Meet us on the way. Make no mistake. Defeat will have a political message." Afterwards, some potential rebels seemed to have been won over. Even some critics predicted that ministers would now win next week's crucial vote.
The irony is that Brown's dire predicament may help him to see off the revolt. Some Labour MPs don't want to kick a man who's already down. Despite the reprieve, Brown's mood will not be improved by the latest ComRes survey for The Independent. The Tories are on 44 per cent, their highest rating since ComRes began polling for this paper two years ago, and remain 14 points ahead of Labour. It's true that Labour's recent slide in the polls has been halted. But Labour whips will not be able to use the figures to lift the morale of their backbenchers off the floor: they point to a Tory majority of more than 100. Full details in tomorrow's paper and at ComRes.
Hi Andrew,
Just to let you know we've posted a thread with a link to this article on Politicalbetting.com -
http://politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2008/06/02/conservatives-on-14-point-lead-with-com-res/
Out of interest, do you have the headline figures for the Liberal Democrats and Other?
Many thanks
Morus
Posted by: Morus | Monday, 02 June 2008 at 09:38 PM
Benjamin Franklin famously observed 'any society that would give up a little liberty, to gain a little security would gain neither and deserve none...' Maybe Brown (a fervent atlantacist) will remember that the US can detain and process terrorist suspects without charge in less than a week. Canada does it in a day, France in 6 days. Why we need 42 days is a mystery.
Besides we have seen how local councils are prepared to use Arbitrary snooping under the guise of terrorism legislation, how long before Central Government turns on 'Middle England' for supposed terrorist offences such as driving or filling up the Rubbish Bin!!
Better to let Brown go than to erode Habeus Corpus..otherwise Labour MPs themselves will be subject to this awful legislation
Posted by: 54 | Wednesday, 04 June 2008 at 10:17 AM