Mark speaking out against the 42 day detention plans

Speech by Mark Hunter on Wed 11th Jun 2008

I am grateful to the hon. Lady. Some of her hon. Friends have raised concerns about the legislation's impact, if it goes through. I ask her to reflect on the views of a former Metropolitan police commissioner, Lord Condon, who said""If we now go back and make it look as though we are going to challenge yet again the point of 28 days that we have reached, I fear that it will play into the hands of the propagandists, who will encourage young men and women-to all other intents and purposes, they are good people-to be misguided, brainwashed and induced into acts of martyrdom."-[Official Report, House of Lords, 13 December 2005; Vol. 676, c. 1175.]"

Is that not the point that her hon. Friends were making a moment ago? Does she not share those concerns? Does she not attach any importance at all to the views of the former head of the Metropolitan police?

May I offer an alternative quote from Sir Ian Blair? He has said on the record very clearly and simply:""We do not have a case that has required us to go beyond 28 days.""

Does my hon. Friend not agree that that comment, taken alongside similar comments from Sue Hemming of the Crown Prosecution Service and Sir Ken Macdonald, the Director of Public Prosecutions, probably provides the most powerfully damning indictment of the Government's case?