Articles | Brown faces crunch terror vote

Government wins terror vote

Published: Wednesday, 11 June 2008, 6:56AM

The Government has narrowly won a crucial vote on controversial new terror laws.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown had feared a backbench rebellion over extending the custody limit for terrorist suspects from 28 to 42 days would lead to his first Commons defeat.

But the Government won by 315 votes to 306, a majority of just nine.

Mr Brown was effectively saved by the votes of the nine Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs who at the last minute agreed to march into the division lobbies with the Government.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith earlier denied she bought the support of the Ulster MPs by promising millions in extra funding for the province.

DUP MP William McCrea said: "We decided on an issue of principle on national security and without apology."

A total of 36 Labour MPs defied the party whips to vote with the opposition against the measure.

The only Tory to support the extension move was former Home Office minister Ann Widdecombe.

Ms Smith had urged Parliament to support the Bill, calling the terrorist threat "real and serious" and "more ruthless than any we have faced before".

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "What we have seen is the sacrifice of principle in order to save the skin of a sinking Prime Minister. It has nothing to do with the substance of the matter.

"It also appears to me at least to have been the victory of pork barrel politics over principle as well."

A third reading of the Bill before it goes to the House of Lords is expected to be a formality.

But the extension could be rejected by the House of Lords, leading to more parliamentary skirmishes in the autumn.