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# 42 Days - The DUP were decisive
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/42-days-the-dup-were-decisive/
- Published: 2008-06-11T23:06:33.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:40:47.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:41

**Tom Griffin (London,** [**The Green Ribbon**](http://tomgriffin.typepad.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net)**):**Over the past several months here at OurKingdom, [myself](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/2008/03/16/the-deal-paisley-must-say-no-to/) and [Fair Deal](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/2008/05/05/today-and-tomorrow-the-dup-and-42-days/) have pointed up the potentially crucial role of the DUP in the Commons vote on 42-day detention.

[So it has proved](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk%5Fpolitics/7449268.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net), with the DUP's nine MPs giving the Government a majority of precisely nine.

There is little doubt that the DUP sought to [make the most of its leverage](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4040287.ece?ref=opendemocracy.net) in the run-up to the vote, something of a sore point with both [Iain Dale](http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2008/06/depend-upon-promises-party.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) and [Daniel Hannan](http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/politics/danielhannan/june2008/dupsellvotes.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net). At the same time, as [Mick Fealty](http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/politics/brassneck/june2008/dup%5Fwhat%5Fdid%5Fyou%5Fexpect.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) suggests, supporting hardline security measures is not exactly an uncharacteristic position for the DUP to take up.