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Whips' pressure pays off as 42 days defeat averted
DAYS of intensive efforts by Labour whips to win over rebels helped the Government squeeze home to win a crucial vote on its plans to allow terror suspects to be detained for 42 days without charge.
Work to woo wavering MPs continued right up until the vote last night as rumours swirled around Westminster of deals allegedly being struck and sweeteners offered to secure votes.
A further concession in the Bill to offer compensation to those who were released without charge at the end of their detention was offered by the Government to soften some opposition.
Ultimately, it was the votes of nine Democratic Unionists which won it, as the Government secured a majority of nine. De-spite insisting they were backing the Bill as a matter of principle, and Downing Street denials of a deal, it was widely rumoured they had secured major concess-ions from the Government, possibly including keeping control over some 200m from water rates that was due to go to the Treasury.
There were reports that one Labour MP had been offered a safe seat in an unsuccessful attempt to win their vote, while there were also claims Ministers were offering hope of compensation for ex-miners who suffered arthritis in their knees.
A pledge to distance the UK from American policy in Cuba ahead of a European Ministers' meeting next week was also offered to one Yorkshire MP.
As one Left-wing Labour MP accused those who switched sides of accepting "pork scratchings", Mr Brown, whips and Cabinet Ministers have spent recent days calling and meeting potential rebels. Selby MP John Grogan received a weekend call from Hazel Blears while he was on the train, only to be cut off as he entered a tunnel, so never discovering what she had to say.
Whips were frantically treading the corridors of Westminster yesterday afternoon with phones pressed to their ears. Reports claimed one MP was even hiding in an attempt to avoid them.
Barnsley West and Penistone MP Mick Clapham said he had meetings with Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and the Prime Minister last week pushing for a Government compensation scheme for miner's knee victims, with the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) expected to report next month that the condition is an industrial disease. He backed the Government last night but dismissed any link between the meetings and that issue.
"It's a coincidence it's on with the 42 days as well. We explained to him what we needed, explained how a scheme could be introduced and Gordon in his typical way wanted to know how many claims there were going to be, what were the costs going to be, and how could it actually operate," said Mr Clapham, who hopes to meet Mr Brown again after the IIAC report is published.
There was also speculation the Government will soon agree a compensation package for former workers suffering pleural plaques, an asbestos-related condition.
York MP Hugh Bayley backed the Government despite being initially sceptical. But Mr Grogan, Halifax's Linda Riordan and Mike Wood of Batley and Spen were among the 36 rebels.
After last night's result Mr Grogan said: "There was such enormous pressure today, it shows the strength of the principles of the people who voted against the Government."
Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell said he had intended to vote against 42 days, but changed his mind and backed the Government in order to "save Gordon Brown for the nation".
"I support him and I think he would be on his way out if he had been defeated on this," he said.
In the Commons earlier, Tory leader David Cameron accused Mr Brown of "ineffective authoritarianism", branding the Government's plans "unworkable" and a "symbolic assault on liberty," which would "trash" the nation's hard- won civil liberties.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne dismissed the Bill's safeguards as "feeble", adding: "These are powers that could apply to any one of us here today, arrested on our way home in a case of mistaken identity, locked up if the Government has its way not for one day, seven days, but six weeks."
TERROR DETENTION TIMELINE
November 2001: Detention without trial is introduced for foreign terror suspects in wake of September 11 attacks.
December 2004: Law Lords rule detention without trial contravenes human rights laws.
March 2005: Alternative control orders put in place to restrict the movements of terror suspects.
November 2005: In aftermath of July 7 attacks, Government loses vote for detention of up to 90 days and doubles limit to 28 days.
February 2007: Ministers launch bid to extend detention beyond 28 days.
May 2007: Government decides against further changes after no consensus reached.
July 2007: New Prime Minister Gordon Brown announces plans to extend detention without trial to 56 days.
December 2007: Measures published to extend detention without trial to 42 days.
June 2008: MPs back 42-day limit by 315 votes to 306.
More coverage:
'Principles sacrificed' as Brown scapes through>>
A battle won. . . but Brown faces more backbench woes>>
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