Major hits out at plans to extend detention

SIR John Major, the former prime minister, has attacked the government's plans to hold terrorism suspects without charge for 42 days.

The former leader of the Conservative Party said Gordon Brown's proposal to extend the detention without trial period would be more likely to boost terrorist recruitment than tackle the security threat to Britain.

Sir John also said Labour's response to terrorism had eroded civil liberties and that the invasion of Iraq had damaged Britain's reputation. His comments are a further blow to the government's efforts to win support for the 42-day increase ahead of a vote in the Commons next week.

The criticism comes after the joint committee on human rights said it remained opposed to the extension, despite concessions outlined by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, in a last-ditch attempt to head off a Labour back-bench revolt.

Meanwhile, Paul Farrelly, a back-bencher, said he would join Labour rebels voting against the proposal – despite being among those that backed Tony Blair's failed attempt to extend the limit to 90 days in 1995.