Minister attacks Major on 42 days

The justification of [anti-terror measures] has sometimes come close to scaremongering Sir John Major

Claims by former prime minister Sir John Major that holding suspects for up to 42 days would increase terrorism have been rejected by the government.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty urged MPs to trust the police on the issue rather than Sir John who has been "out of the loop" for the past decade.

The government faces a battle to get the proposals through Parliament amid claims they infringe civil liberties.

More than 30 Labour MPs are thought likely rebel in a vote next Wednesday.

Lib Dem and Tory MPs are also against the plan - which could leave the government relying on the votes of the nine DUP MPs.

The government argues the growing complexity of terror plots means it may soon be necessary for police to hold suspects beyond the current maximum of 28 days.

Values 'at risk'

But in an interview with The Times, Sir John, who survived an IRA rocket attack during his time in Downing Street, argued the plans pose a graver threat to liberty than terrorism.

He said: "I don't believe that sacrifice of due process can be justified.

I would ask people simply to listen to and trust the Peter Clarks of this world rather than someone like John Major who has been out of the loop for about 10 years Tony McNulty Home Office minister

"If we are seen to defend our own values in a manner that does violence to them, then we run the risk of losing those values.

"Even worse, if our own standards fall, it will serve to recruit terrorists more effectively than their own propaganda could ever hope to," the former Tory PM said.

'Scaremongering'

He went on: "The government has introduced measures to protect against terrorism. These go beyond anything contemplated when Britain faced far more regular - and no less violent - assaults from the IRA.

"The justification of these has sometimes come close to scaremongering."

But Mr McNulty, speaking on BBC Two's The Daily Politics, rejected Sir John's argument, saying MPs should trust the judgement of experts such as former Met Police anti-terror chief Peter Clark.

He also denied newspaper reports that police officers believe concessions aimed at increasing Parliamentary oversight and limiting the use of the powers to "grave" emergencies would render any new law ineffective.

"We have listened to people and think it is still workable, in those extraordinary circumstances,

"I would ask people simply to listen to and trust the Peter Clarks of this world rather than someone like John Major who has been out of the loop for about 10 years," he added.

BBC home affairs correspondent Rory McLean said some police officers were concerned the government's plans had become so bureaucratic that they would be impractical.

But senior officers, including Scotland Yard's head of counter-terrorism Bob Quick, believed the plans were still workable.

'Political own goal'

Labour backbencher Paul Farrelly said he would join rebels voting against 42 days - despite being among those that backed Tony Blair's failed bid to extend the limit to 90 days in 1995.

He said he had been persuaded by expert opinion - such as that of the Director of Public Prosecutions - that an extension was not needed and in fact could make matters worse.

And he also criticised the policy as a "political own goal" that compromised Prime Minister Gordon Brown's pledge of a "fresh approach" to government when he succeeded Mr Blair almost a year ago.

"The case has still not been made for 42 days; it is an arbitrary figure," the MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme told BBC Radio 4's The World at One.

He dismissed the government's concessions, saying they would "just make a poor piece of legislation even more convoluted".

Mr Farrelly insisted the vote was not one of confidence in Mr Brown, who had spoken to him by telephone about the issue.