Local Lib Dems challenge Labour MP to oppose attack on civil liberties in Commons vote

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jun 2008

Local Liberal Democrat Kevin Lang has challenged Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz to vote againt the Government's plans in the House of Commons vote today

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Kevin Lang has challenged Edinburgh North & Leith's Labour MP to vote against the UK Government's unnecessary plans to increase detention without charge to 42 days.

The House of Commons will vote today on whether to increase the time that police can detain somebody without charge from 28 to 42 days. The Liberal Democrats oppose this change, viewing it as unnecessary infringement on civil liberties that will do nothing to tackle terrorism.

Up to 30 Labour MPs are expected to rebel against the Government. Local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Kevin Lang has challenged Edinburgh North & Leith's Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz to recognise that 42 days is entirely arbitrary and should be opposed by voting against the plan.

Kevin said, "The Liberal Democrats are broadly supportive of the Counter Terrorism Bill. However, we have yet to see any compelling evidence that extending detention without charge to 42 days is necessary or effective.

"No other country with a common law system has sought such a lengthy period of detention without charge. Such a change in the law must only be considered if there is overwhelming evidence, not for the purposes of "looking tough". There is a real risk that the extension will alienate the very communities we are relying on for information, as happened with internment in Northern Ireland in the 1970s.

"The parliamentary safeguards proposed by the Government are meaningless. The Government has asked for consensus, and consensus exists. It exists, however, against extending pre-charge detention to 42 days. I hope Mark Lazarowicz will oppose this fundamental attack on our civil liberties."