42 Days: Can the Government take direction from Compass

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): In our coverage of the government's disastrous efforts to extend detention without charge beyond the current 28 days we didn't mention the recent Compass survey of 800 plus Labour supporters. Only 10 per cent of loyalists support 42 days, while large majorities endorse post-charge questioning and admitting intercept evidence. Today's Guardian report by Nicholas Watt on the opinion of MPs leads me to think that some of them at least, in addition to being persuaded by Shami, may be looking over their shoulders at their constituency parties. I suspect that the report is far too optimistic, however, about voting intentions. It is going to be very close and the odds remain that Brown will manage to impose his will - and, of thereby lose all claim to building a consensus around what the issue as he claimed.