Is Gordon a masochist?

Gordon Brown outpointed David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions today on the economy, but he is heading for a black eye on 42 days' detention without charge for terrorist suspects.

As Brown was beating his chest in victory after a minor skirmish with the Tory leader, his own side were plotting his downfall at a meeting of the civil liberties group of Labour MPs chaired by Frank Dobson, the fomer Health Secretary.

The group are gathering support all the time against 42 days' detention and Geoff 'Buff' Hoon, the Government chief whip, is heading for certain defeat when the issue goes to a vote on the committee stage of the anti-terror legislation.

Some MPs, such as Andrew Mackinlay, who once voted in favour of 90 days, are now in the 'no' camp and are going to vote for the status quo allowing the police to detain terrorist suspects for 28 days without charge. The Second Reading of the Bill is on April 1 and some Labour MPs are threatening to vote against the whole Bill then.

The Tories are going to vote for the Second Seading, but against the clause on 42 days. That means the combined forces of the Liberal Democrats, Tories and the Labour rebels are going to be against Brown. He has no chance. So some Labour MPs are wondering, why is he doing it? Is he a masochist?

THE MOLE: TERRORISM BILL

LAST UPDATED 3:29 PM, MARCH 26, 2008