42 days figure is plucked from thin air

12.00.00am GMT Sun 8th Jun 2008

Responding to Jacqui Smith's interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Affairs Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The Home Secretary has admitted that MI5 did not ask for an extension to the period of detention without charge from 28 days to 42. Neither did the Director of Public Prosecution.

"It increasingly looks as if this is a number plucked from thin air merely to show that the Government wants to look tough on terror.

"The tragedy is that, far from hurting terrorism, it will help terrorists by alienating the very communities we need on board."