Lords Debate Splits Unionism

As the Government's controversial 42-day detention Bill is debated in the House of Lords later today, previous support for Gordon Brown's make-or-break Bill in the Commons by Northern Ireland's biggest party, the DUP, is again underling the fractious nature of its relationship with fellow unionists.

The two main unionist parties are now set for a showdown on opposite sides of the debate as, despite long declared aspirations of 'unionist unity' by new DUP boss, First Minister Peter Robinson, it's not to be.

Northern Ireland is already being forced into a by-election in rural Co Fermanagh as the UUP has objected to the DUP's choice of candidate for co-option, triggering a divisive election.

While the DUP is claiming that forcing the election will hand the seat to Sinn Fein - in what is effectively a local UUP and DUP standoff - the battle lines are now set in London too.

The DUP will again support Labour in its bid to push the 42-day detention Bill through the Lords, while Ulster Unionists will vote against it.

Lord Laird, Lord Maginnis and Lord Rogan are expected to join with other peers to help kick the legislation out.

This is despite the fact that the party's sole MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon, backed the Government plans in the House of Commons last month.

Lord John Laird said people needed to think calmly and rationally about what was being suggested by Gordon Brown.

"We are talking about locking up potentially innocent people for 42 days," he said.

"In Northern Ireland, have bitter experience with internment that this sort of law - which breaches people's human rights and erodes civil liberties - will backfire."

The UUP peer accepted that the emotional public response was to support powers for the police to hold terror suspects for 42 days, or even longer.

He said: "Gordon Brown knew this legislation would not get through the Lords.

"He is playing politics with it. Beating his chest and playing to the gallery and popular opinion. It's the lowest of the low to play politics with terrorism."

However, the DUP's Lord Browne commented: "Intelligence gathering in the 21st century is a complex and often international task involving networks of individuals and computers. This clearly requires a longer timeframe in order to carry out this task successfully.

"There have been clear indications of the need for this kind of proposal by those involved in the intelligence gathering required when tackling today's international terrorist networks.

"It is important that the law does change to reflect the circumstances we are unfortunately faced with today."

The first debate on the law will be held in the Lords tonight and will include the DUP's Lord Morrow, Lord Browne and Ian Paisley's wife Baroness Paisley.

(BMcC)