Blunkett: Labour at rock bottom

Attempts to extend the limit to 90 days in 2005 ended in defeat for Labour

Gordon Brown's government has "hit rock bottom", but defeat over anti-terror plans would not be a "knockout blow", ex-home secretary David Blunkett says.

He told Simon Mayo on BBC Five Live that Labour's present unpopularity meant things could not get any worse.

Mr Blunkett backs the plan to extend from 28 days to 42 days the time terror suspects can be held without charge.

Mr Brown says he will not retreat on the issue despite the number of Labour rebels threatening to inflict defeat.

Mr Brown says the extension from 28-days is needed because of the complexity and sheer number of plots.

We've hit a rock bottom in my view and we can only climb out of it David Blunkett Sheffield Brightside MP

But he faces opposition from about 50 Labour MPs, in addition to Lib Dems and Tories amid fears over civil liberties.

Mr Brown says he has "tried to build a consensus" on the plans - due to be subject to a Commons vote next week - and urged MPs to back him.

He also refused to be drawn on whether defeat would mean a vote of confidence on his leadership.

Mr Blunkett said he did not believe losing the vote would spell the end for the prime minister.

Civil liberty concerns

"We've hit a rock bottom in my view and we can only get... climb out of it, so I think that, whilst it would be yet another knock, it would not be a knockout blow," he said.

He insisted there was no alternative to keeping suspects in custody, despite claims by some critics the measure would infringe civil liberties.

"I really don't understand how anyone can believe that you can pat a terrorist on the head and say: 'Don't worry, we won't hold you while we investigate these multiple links across multiple boundaries across the world - we'll let you out, so we're being ultra-careful not to infringe your rights, even though you might well infringe our lives'," he said.

"We're trying here to ensure that when evidence is available of the threat of terrorist action, we don't allow the very act of having an open, democratic, civil rights based society to undermine our ability to protect ourselves - that would be very foolish."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is set to meet Labour backbenchers on Monday evening in a bid to try to persuade them of the need for the 42 day plan.