So the House of Commons voted – but only just – to extend pre-charge detention for terror suspects from 28 to 42 days today, undermining this country’s tradition of high standards of justice.
I am with the civil liberties campaigners on this one – I have failed to be convinced by any of the arguments I heard in favour of this move, and strongly suspect it will end up doing more harm than good.
Already, under UK anti-terror laws you can be locked up and repeatedly questioned by police for up to 28 days without being charged and may not even be told why you are there. As the human rights group Liberty points out on its website, that figure is seven times the limit for someone suspected of murder.
Muslims will end up bearing the brunt of this law, as usual, which will surely only feed discontent among sections of our youth.
I hope the House of Lords kick the plan into the long grass, when they get the chance.