Davis predicts demise of 42 days

The government's attempt to increase the terror detention limit to 42 days will be killed off in the House of Lords, former shadow home secretary David Davis has predicted.

Davis, who resigned as an MP to force a by-election over the government's record on civil liberties, said he expected peers to reject it this week.

The Lords will vote on increasing the time terror suspects can be held before charge from 28 to 42 days on Monday.

Davis told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I think it will be thrown out by a huge majority."

He said the measure, part of the Counter-Terrorism Bill, had no support from the public.

Reports have suggested that the government, which narrowly won a vote on 42 days in the Commons in June, is not prepared to use the Parliament Act to overrule the Lords.

Davis said: "It was something that was profitable for the government - they thought by having 42 days and us opposing it they would make us look weak and them look strong.

"That was when 70 per cent supported it, now it's about 30 per cent supporting the government."

He went on: "Their own party probably won't support them in the Parliament Act, so I think it's probably over."

The MP was re-elected in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election in July, promising to continue campaigning on civil liberties issues.