Labour MP tables terror bill amendment

Labour MP David Winnick has tabled an amendment to the Counter-Terrorism Bill designed to stop any extension of pre-charge detention to 42 days.

The Walsall MP made his move despite reports on Friday suggesting that the government was looking for a compromise deal with backbenchers.

With the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats opposed to the plan, a large Labour rebellion is threatening to the defeat the legislation, currently in its Commons committee stage.

According to the Guardian ministers want to secure the 42 goal by offering a number of concessions on the level of parliamentary and judicial scrutiny required.

But Winnick said he had not been persuaded of the case and hailed the support of colleagues who had previously supported extending the limit to 90 days.

Earlier the Guardian reported that Gordon Brown had dispatched senior ministers to broker a deal with backbenchers over the Bill.

Despite saying that he would rather be right and lose, the prime minister is thought to be keen to avoid a defeat at a vulnerable time for his leadership.

Chief whip Geoff Hoon and home secretary Jacqui Smith are said to be working on a plan that would allow for much greater safeguards if the maximum time limit is extended beyond the current 28 days.

Under the draft plan, before a proposal for 42 days detention comes into force, ministers would have to declare an "exceptional need" such as the discovery of multiple plots or in the aftermath of an atrocity.

In addition Parliament could have to give its approval within a period as short as seven days, as well as judicial review.

"The compromises will be significant because we want to win this vote," one government source said.

"The rebels are not going to be fobbed off with small stuff, but once you get to the detail the differences between both sides are bridgeable."

However Winnick, who tabled the amendment allowing 28 days when a previous attempt at securing 90 days was defeated in 2005, said support for his stance was growing.

"I am glad that the signatories include colleagues like Andrew Dismore and Ann Clwyd who supported 90 days," he said.

"It does appear that some who supported the government in 2005 have now changed their minds and now take the view that the current 28-day limit is sufficient.

"I believe there is a reasonable chance that the government will be defeated, but I do accept that the government will do everything in its power to try to persuade some of my colleagues to agree on the basis of various concessions.

"If the government does not get its way, hopefully the issue will be closed for some time, unless there is compelling new evidence to show that it is necessary to go beyond 28 days."