Britain: British prime minister Tony Blair targeted the Conservatives yesterday as he warned opponents of his government's controversial new terrorism Bill that they risked compromising Britain's national security.
However, Mr Blair declined to face down Labour opponents of plans to allow police to hold terror suspects for up to 90 days by making it a "confidence" issue in the House of Commons. He said this would divert attention from the real issue and would not, anyway, guarantee the passage of the new powers requested by police chiefs.
Faced with the possibility of a Commons defeat when MPs resume their debate tomorrow, the government was last night tabling a "fail-safe" amendment to its own legislation.
This was a procedural requirement to ensure that - in the event of a government defeat - MPs would still have available an alternative to the 28-day limit being proposed by Labour rebel David Winnick.
It is understood the government fallback would still allow police to hold suspects for up to 60 days, subject to a weekly review in the High Court.
But while the Liberal Democrats pledged to stay as close to the existing 14-day provision as possible, the Conservatives' shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve said they believed Mr Winnick's 28-day proposal marked "the absolute limit of what should be permitted".
Home secretary Charles Clarke admitted he could be forced to compromise in face of determined cross-party opposition and the near certainty of defeat for his Bill in the House of Lords. But if Mr Clarke appeared resigned, Mr Blair was defiant. "We do not want to compromise on the 90 days at all . . . it will be a compromise with this nation's security."
He said the police had made a compelling case for the new powers in conditions of "terrorism without limit", requiring the collection of extensive forensic evidence in Britain and abroad, and in circumstances where they could not know the gestation period of a terrorist conspiracy as they sought the necessary evidence to bring charges before the courts.
Mr Blair also stressed that the number of people likely to be held under the new laws "would be very small" and probably fewer than an estimated 20 people held and then charged under the existing 14-day power.
This was not a form of internment, argued Mr Blair. It was "an extraordinary thing" to say it was an affront to civil liberties.
There is unease among some traditionalist Conservatives that Mr Blair has public support on his side. The prime minister challenged the Conservative leadership candidates David Cameron and David Davis on their opposition to the measure in face of the advice of those involved in the front line against terrorism.
However, that prompted a reminder from outgoing Tory leader Michael Howard that in his previous life as shadow home secretary Mr Blair had led Labour opposition to the renewal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
Mr Blair carried his argument to a meeting of Labour MPs last night, where he again stressed that he saw his controversial plans to further reform Britain's public services as central to securing a fourth Labour term after his promised departure during the present parliament.